He saw with his Heart rather with his Eyes

I deem it a great privilege to pay my grateful obeisance to that great soul, though small and far removed from his times, through this symposium on ‘Rev. Charles Walker Posnett. K-i-H.,’ who touched millions of hearts and the transformation of the succeeding generations continues through the churches and institutions that he has established. To one such generation I am privileged to belong. I become nostalgic at the very mention of Rev. Posnett and Wesleyan Methodist Church. I was baptized as a Methodist and confirmed and ordained as a Presbyter in the Church of South India. My parents and maternal grand parents were Methodist Evangelists. My parents rolled over into C.S.I., and retired as its Evangelists. I am equally privileged to have visited Kingswood School, Bath, where he had schooling and Richmond Theological College where was trained to be a Pastor, and to have become a family friend of his famous British Diplomat son late Sir Richard Posnett. OBE, CMB, KBE and stayed with his family in England in 1985. He and his wife were a guest at the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations of Medak Cathedral in 1984.He was visiting Medak after 60 years. Sir Richard Posnett was four years old when the church was dedicated on 25.12.1924. He recounted how he was taken on camel’s back to the church. My son Dr. B. Nathan Praveen Anand studied in Sheffield, the birth place of Rev. Posnett. Last but not the least, I was honoured by Medak Diocese by appointing me as the Convener of the “Centenary Celebrations of the Establishment of Wesleyan Methodist Missions in Medak Methodist District” 1979. I trust that these little experiences will be treated by CHAI as deemed to have qualified to speak on the Wesleyan Methodist Mission and the ‘Life and Work of Rev. C.W. Posnett,’ though not fully qualified.

1. THE CONTEXT

To understand a person and his work, he should be placed in his context. The context of Rev. Posnett is the Christianity in this part of India, the Deccan. Christianity was brought to the Deccan by the Franciscans in 1535 through Father Louis who was sent by Albequerque as the Ambassdor to the King of Bijapur. The first converts were shepherds, weavers and fishermen who were cared for in Mudgal, a small town in Raichur District. The Muslim ruler granted several acres of land for the support of the Mudgal congregation. The growth of the church was slow. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Hyderabad was formed in 1886. The Nizam gave grants for many R.C churches and also for educational and medical work. He also gave grants for the building of few Protestant Churches, including Dornakal Cathedral. He used to make monthly grants to all the churches in Hyderabad.

The Church Missionary Society began work in the Marathi-speaking District of Aurangabad in 1860.

The American Baptist Telugu Mission, following some of the Mass Movements converts northwards, extended its work to Secunderabad and Warangal in 1875.

Captain C. Winkle, a civil engineer with Hyderabad Railway, was instrumental in making the American Methodist Episcopal Church to work in Hyderabad in 1873 among Europeans, Anglo-Indians and Telugus.

General A.E.H. Campbell who was in Jalna Cantonement encouraged the founding of the Church of Scotland Mission. After he was appointed as the Judge of the Nizam’s Subordinate Court in Chandirghat, he co-operated with the newly established Wesleyan Mission.

The Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society began its work in Ceylon in 1814 and spread to South India. The WMMS’s work was organized into three Provincial Synods: Ceylon, South India (consisting Madras, Trichinopoly, Hyderabad and Mysore Districts) and North India. The Hyderabad District was separated from Madras in 1885. Rev. William Burgess became its first Chairman.

The beginning of the Wesleyan Methodist work in Hyderabad District owes to Sir Arthur Cotton, an engineer of the Madras government working on the Godavari River. Encouraged by him Revs. E.E.Jenkins, Chairman ,Madras Methodist District and George Fryar travelled 220 miles up the Godavari river and arrived at Sironcha, a village in Telangana in 1863. On their return they recommended to the Madras Synod for starting a mission in Sironcha. This coincided with the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of Methodist Missionary Society in England. The M.M.S had set apart 1500 pounds from the Jubilee Celebrations Fund for the ‘Godavari Mission.’

No efforts were made to launch that mission next 15 years until Rev. Jenkins who by then became the Secretary at M.M.S House in England who in response to a letter from one Sergeant Goodwin, a Methodist Local Preacher, he arranged for sending Revs. Henry Little and William Burgess to be sent to Secunderabad from Madras, who arrived in Secunderabad in 1878. Services were conducted for the British soldiers in Secunderabad and a Methodist class was formed.

The Madras Synod considering the favourable situation as reported by them, sent Rev. William Burgess and Benjamin Wesley, an Indian evangelist. The first Wesleyan Methodist Telugu service was held in 1879 in Ramkote, Hyderabad in the house of Mr. Joseph Cornelius, a Telugu Christian from Madras. A building was constructed on a land granted by the British Resident to Rev. Burgess to serve as church and school. By the end of 1880 there were Telugu Christians in Hyderabad, a Tamil congregation in Secunderabad made over by the Church of Scotland Mission and Wesleyan group among the British troops in Trimulgheery. The present Garrison Wesley Church is from that period.

The gospel was first preached to the more educated Muslims and Hindus in the city through evening evangelistic services. Four schools were opened for their children.

But more response came from the villages. Hence, in 1882 a long tour was taken by Rev. William Burgess, Rev. Benjamin Pratt and B.P. Wesley covering Siddipet and Karimnagar and on return journey Sircilla and Medak. This resulted in establishment of Mission Centres in Siddipet, Medak and Karimnagar.

2. THE MAN

Rev. Posnett was born in Sheffield on 7.12.1870 but his ancestry was Lincolnshire. Three generations of his forefathers were Wesleyan Methodist travelling Preachers. His parents were Rev. Robert Posnett and Mrs. Mary Anne, daughter of William Walker of Bolton, a well known tanner. Her brothers were prominent Methodist laymen. It was not fortuitous but a divine move that “traditional consecration to God thus marked both branches of the family.”

1. Rev. Roberts had 8 children: 4th Emilie, who became constant companion for 40 years in her brother Posnett’s work in Medak; 6th is Charles Walker Posnett.

   Posnett had schooling both in Woodhouse Grove School, Leeds and Kingswood School, Bath, Somerset founded by Rev. John Wesley, founder of Methodism, in 1748, primarily for the children of Methodist clergymen. But initially it was for the children of local colliers. He spent five years in the school becoming Prefect and matriculated in 1887. The school Honours Board has the names of father and son.

   In John Wesley’s day Kingswood had revivals periodically and these were regular between 1881-88. Boys were taken to the ‘Mission Services’ at Walcot or King’s street chapel in Bath. During a visit by the Rev. Thomas Cook, the Connexional Evangelist, many boys professed conversion and they were shepherded in classes. Posnett was one of the leaders to safeguard the movement.

   During this period he felt the call for the ministry and under went similar spiritual experience that of Martin Luther’s (Tower Experience) and John Wesley’s (Aldersgate Street). He explained thus, “I had a vision early on in Ilkley, when my father was preaching, but it was nothing compared with the flame that arose in our hearts at Kingswood.”

2. He became a local preacher and a candidate for the Methodist ministry at Canterbury, where he was acting as pupil teacher at Kent College School. He was sent to Richmond Theological College, Surrey. This was established through a resolution passed in 1834 by the Wesleyan Methodist Conference for the improvement of junior preachers. It started in 1843 in rented accommodation. He organized ‘College Missionary Anniversary’ and raised funds for foreign missions.

   As a preparation to be a missionary he went to London hospitals seeking some training in medicine and securing their advice in procuring medical equipment.

   In 1892 “P & O S.S. Roumania” sank off the coast of Spain with all the passengers, including Mrs. William Burgess wife of Rev. William and her children and Rev. H. Malkin, a young minister appointed to Hyderabad. Posnett felt the call to take Rev. Malkan’s place and the Methodist Church appointed him.

   Posnett sailed on board of “S.S. Golconda” along with Rev. H. Highfield who was appointed to Ceylon and arrived in Madras in November 1895. He was received by Rev. William Burgess.

   Posnett was asked to help at Trimulgheery, a military centre in Secunderabad. But his heart was to go to villages guided by John Wesley’s mission dictum,”And go always, not only to those who want you, but to those who want you most.” He realized that learning Telugu was a prerequisite. He reached out to suburbs of Cantonement and Secunderabad and villages nearby. Having passed his Telugu exam with 80 o/o and sermon in Telugu, the Synod resolved, “We feel justified in placing him in Medak.”

   He reached Medak in a bullock cart along with Miss Emilie Posnett and Miss Harris covering 60 miles in 3 days.

   Rev. William Burgess retired on 2.1.1896 and Rev. Posnett took over.

   Posnett went on furlough in 1911 and married Miss Phyllis Barker of Bowdon in 1912, who at first confined to her friend Dorothy that ‘she would never marry a missionary.’ But as divine providence would have its way both married missionaries. Dorothy married Gordon Bennet who also was a missionary in Medak.

3. His 45 years ministry saw expansion of mission both geographically and numerically at a tremendous pace surmounting natural calamities viz., famines and diseases, which also marked his period. The list is too long to mention in this short paper. The Hyderabad Methodist District covered the revenue districts of Hyderabad, Medak, Nizamabad, Adilabad, Karimnagar and Nalgonda and thus became the largest and a vibrant district. The Christian population in 1896 in the Nizam’s Dominions was 4000; in 1917 in Hyderabad Methodist District 25000 and at the time of Posnett’s departure in 1939 it was 1,21,000.

3. THE VISIONARY

Instead of chronicling the events and burdening this presentation with numbers it would be helpful for the missionary enterprise to study the approaches he made to given situations and how he turned obstacles into opportunities and employ such of those in the present day contexts.

As Sackett, a close associate and who saw his ministry from close quarters, found Posnett’s success mantra in that, “Posnett was never confused in his mind the distinction between the duty of the day and hope of the morrow. To form a bridge between the two was his constant aim.”

3.A. Evangelism

Posnett’s priority was for evangelism. While he reached out to all castes, he concentrated on the lowest to raise them up into a living church that would command the attention and respect of the Hindu and Muslim world as an act of God. In 1925 the Waddaras were baptized. Work among the Gonds started in 1931. 1932 saw a great increase of Caste movement. Caste baptisms took place in Lakshettipet area in 1925 in public and with an undertaking from them. Summer schools started for the ‘enquirers’ and village elders. A similar summer school was conducted in Medak in 1930 for Caste Hindus. 500 attended. Medak became one of the great Mass Movements areas in India.

Posnett was not enamored by the numbers who gathered for baptism. He refused to baptize on two counts: lack of minimum knowledge of Christian faith and absence of post baptismal Pastoral care. He politely turned away in thousands. To cite one example: During the famine and cholera epidemic through 1898 - 1901 thousands thronged to the famine camps set up by Posnett in Medak. People were engaged in ‘food for work’ during the day and in the evenings they were told the story of Jesus Christ. The children were engaged in education during the day. At the end of famine in 1901 as the people were returning to their villages many asked to be baptized. But Posnett baptized 1000 and refused baptism to 2000 simply because he did not have trained personnel to take care of them, which would result in back sliding to their old faith. There were many misgivings on the mass conversions, including that of the Medak. The Synod in January 1917 appointed a Commission to study these mass movements in various mission fields of different missionary societies from Punjab to Tinnevelly, including Hyderabad District viz., LMS, CMS, American Methodist, American Presbyterian, United Free Church of Scotland, Lutheran Mission and Baptist Missions. One report of an area in north India reported of 40,000 becoming Christians within few years. The area was under a European minister and 10 Indian ministers. It was found that there was no special preparation for baptism, no teaching after baptism and a visit by an evangelist once in ten days. It resulted in all the villages going back to their old faith.

3.B. Shepherding

Posnett found, as in Lord Jesus Christ’s time, the harvest was plenty but labourers were few; and they were like sheep without shepherd. He was more concerned about Christian nurture of post baptism period. In order to train personnel he started a training school called Sathyaveda Patashala (సత్యవేద పాఠశాల) which led to establishing Theological Institution in Medak. In order to draw students for this institution he had number of Boarding Schools in many places: Sangareddy, Ramayampet, Karimnagar, Jagityal, Aler, Lakshettipet, Dudgaon etc., In Medak he had Boys Boarding School and Girls Boarding School. He made four categories of students who could be trained at the Girls Training School and Men’s Training School as evangelists and teachers:

1. ‘A’ Grade - Studied up to 3rd Form (9th class)

2. ‘B’ Grade - Completed Village Primary School

3. ‘C’ Grade’ - Youth from Village School

4. ‘N.T’: Normal Training - Passed III(3rd) Form or Matriculation: They were trained as Teachers to teach n boarding schools or as Village Schools Supervisors.

Those who have studied in English medium in Wesley Boys School were sent to United Theological College, Bangalore. He made concerted efforts to develop ordained Indian ministry.

Posnett withdrew himself to Darjeeling to write books for the theological students. He wrote: Posnett’s Outlines, Letters to Seven Churches, History of the Early Church. He introduced study of Theology, Comparative Religions and Urdu in the Bible School.

He got men and women who were trained in the Training Schools married and sent into the villages as evangelists. He made adequate arrangements for their stay by constructing large pucca houses with large verandahs which would act as worship place and Day and Night Schools: Gudi + Badi. (గుడి-బడి)

Both evangelist and his wife were paid salaries. In 1909 he formed ‘Evangelists Pension Fund and ‘Annuitant Society for Indian ministers. In 1925 he founded Provident Fund Society for the retired staff. Their children were given free education in the Mission Boarding Schools.

To surmount the tremendous pressure of lack of personnel to administer Holy Sacraments, he got the Provincial Synod and the Home Committee agree to his suggestion to create a new cadre of ‘Pastors’ from among the senior evangelists of great integrity and devotion by giving them annually renewable license duly signed by the President of the Methodist Conference.

He had burden in his heart for the pastoral care of the ‘Diaspora’ Methodist Telugu Christians. During famine and war years, especially in 1919, many village Christians migrated to Secunderabad and Hyderabad, Bombay, Natal and Mespotamia in search of work. Christian colonies were established for settlers in Wesley Bagh, Ramkote and Musheerabad in Hyderabad for people from Karimnagar Circuit. And Indian pPastor was posted for the pastoral care. Wesley Hall, Market Street, in Secunderabad was built for youth who were studying and working and were kept under the care of an evangelist. In 1921 a Telugu Christian Church was established in Bombay for over 800 christians. Indians Pastors were sent there and at times with the arrangement of Marathi Pastors from that area were appointed.

Posnett, while still holding dual responsibilities as the Chairman of the District and Chairman of the Provincial Synod, he earmarked time to visit the congregations twice a year. Hence it is said of him, “The training of evangelists alone would never have made Posnett the father of his people that he became. This was only possible through close and constant contact with them in their home life.”

3.C. The ‘Word’ became Flesh

His anguish at the sight of the plight of people could be gauged from his words. It was not a question of ‘either/or’ of ‘preaching’ or ‘social concern’ but ‘and/both.’ He lamented, “After going from house to house and praying with them I feel that it is a mockery to go on praying with them, blessing them, and accepting their small gifts without doing anything for them.” 7 He further poured out his restlessness at the empty words of preaching saying, “It is no good preaching even cleanliness to the people all huddled in a small hut unless you can show them the way to something better.”

The Boarding Schools played a great role in inculcating social responsibility. Boys Scouts were flung into action of cleaning up of villages with the slogan:”A clean heart, a clean home, and a clean village.” They assisted Pastors and Evangelists in the villages. 9

The setting of ‘Famine Camps’ and providing work and medical aid and establishment of hospitals and dispensaries all over the district and aiding in the construction of pucca houses for the poor in the villages speak volumes of God driven love and concern of Posnett for the poor and needy. The establishment Victoria Leprosy Hospital in Dichipalli in 1913 stands out as a Christ like love of Posnett for the physically inflicted people.

The world wide epidemic in 1918 also had cast catastrophic shadow in the Nizam’s Dominions. Many Evangelists and Bible women and 5 o/o Methodist community perished. Famine felt most from Asifabad to Aler. Posnett tried for food in Hyderabad, Bezwada and Madras. Evangelists and Bible women who were once the victims of the first famine, now church workers, while themselves tasting the scourge of famine, parted with their food and clothing for the suffering masses. A sterling example of Christian compassion!

In 1921 a Farm Colony was established in Kamareddi to teach better agricultural methods and together a ‘Co-operative Society’ was established to lend loans to farmers thus relieving them from the clutches of money- lenders.

3.D. The Empowerment

Posnett was of the considered opinion that the ‘empowerment’ of the downtrodden was key to the success of the mission. He set goals for his mission:

1. The villages must be won for Christ. Therefore, evangelists must be found and caught.

2. A building for the work of training.

3. Houses for students and staff.

4. To provide succession evangelists by teaching children and capture them from the beginning. Therefore, village schools are necessary.

5. Village schools will prove inadequate for the brightest children. Therefore Central Schools must be founded and staffed.

6. A boarding establishment will be necessary with houses for teachers and a bungalow for the staff-superintendent.

7. As the children grow, separate hostels for Boys and Girls.

8. Medical work will need: a) Dispensary; b) Hospitals; c) Doctors; d) Nurses and buildings for them.

9. Dispensaries in strategic centres in the villages must be opened. Such of these were opened in Papannapet, Shankarampet, Pitlam etc.,

While in the British ruled Telugu region in Madras Presidency where government aided the Church Schools and Village Catechists who received salaries from the government worked part time as evangelists, the Nizam government did not aid the church schools. Yet, Posnett had innumerable village Day and Night schools and Boarding schools in all important centers, including Wesley Institutions in Secunderabad.

He encouraged higher education in English medium with a dual aim: Qualified youth will find secular jobs and candidates for ministry will be found.

Teacher Training School was established. In Wadiaram ‘Seva Ashram’ was opened both as a rest house for retired Bible women and older girls from schools from villages could be safeguarded from temptations from village life and train them for life through skills training and marriage.

A Rest House and Hospital were constructed in Ramayampet.

3.E. Indigenization

Posnett adopted indigenous methods both for preaching and teaching. He encouraged folk arts and singing. He sent students for training in music. The Gymnasium Hall acted as a place for Yoga and learning music and drance.This also reflectected in the church architecture:

1. Ramkote church - Islamic dome, Moorish and Dravidian.

2. Dudgaon church - Dravidian

3. Nirmal church - Dravidian and Islamic

4. Lakshettipet - Dravidian and Norman

Posnett’s appointment in 1916 as the Chairman of the Provincial Synod coincided with the Centenary of founding of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society. The Synod at his instance mooted the idea of a project creating ‘Indian Missionary Society’ to be financed by Methodist Church in South India.

Responding to a meeting by Dr. Clement from Nirmal, Posnett arranged for the appointment of Rev. P.J.S. Appodurai, a Tamil, for Nirmal, an ‘untouched area, through this newly founded IMS.

He developed rapport with all sections of society. An instance of pulling down a building in Medak which was falsely held by the local Muslims to have been built on their grave yard proved his tender heart not to hurt anyone even though through the enquiry by the Ecclesiastical Dept of the Nizam Government proved it was not so.

4. HUMBLE HUMAN

Posnett was a well built personality. A horse died under his weight. Bed cots, benches and bullock carts broke. But tender at heart and humble.

He desisted praise and recognition. He stealthily left Hyderabad in a train to board a ship at Bombay to return to England on retirement on 7.6.1939, except Rev. Samuel and two helpers after serving 45 years leaving a great legacy and men and material. When HEH the Nizam came to know about this he sent a special envoy presenting him with his own ‘decoration.’

In 1926 King George V decorated Posnett with ‘Knighthood of First Class Order’ of ‘K-i-H’ for social work in India.

Charles Walker Posnett entered into eternal rest in his house in England on 30.9.1950.

Written & Submitted by - Rev. Dr. B. Prabhakar Rao. M.A.,B.D., D.D.,(Ph.D) on 7.2.2015, Samanvay, Tarnaka