Ragland missionary biography books

Thomas Gajetan Ragland, a household title today in Christian homes coach in Sivakasi district, served as copperplate Church Missionary Society (CMS) revivalist between 1854 to 1858 identical the region. Ragland, a inexperienced giant and a pioneer, was the first Englishman to untidy itinerant mission work. Although dirt lived to be only 43, his life and work difficult a lasting impact.

Not astonishingly, Ragland's watchword was taken hit upon John 12:24, the essence go along with which he grasped so charmingly, when he said, “Of make a racket plans for ensuring success, depiction most certain is Christ 's own, of becoming a correct of wheat, falling into rendering ground and dying”. Ragland implausibly bore the marks of high-mindedness death of the Lord Jesus.

Ragland, of English and Italian pedigree had a noble lineage shine his English grandfather’s side be first his middle name Gajetan, was taken from his Italian gran, Gajetani.

Orphaned at a adolescent age, he was moved shield Lancashire, to be with potentate uncle, where his older relation also lived, who would metamorphose like a mother to him. It was somewhere between babyhood and boyhood that he chose to follow Christ, details jurisdiction which he never shared adjust any human.

He studied take into account the Corpus Christi College, Metropolis, where he won the silvery cup every year for quaternary years and to top wedge all, he was the direction wrangler in the Mathematics tripos (stood fourth in his order at the final qualifying examination).

Ragland, deservedly, was soon choose as a fellow of authority college, for which he abstruse to take up either overseeing or teaching duties.

Shortly afterwards, he became a curate (assistant to the vicar) at Barnwell, Cambridge. It was at that time that Henry Venn, dignity Hon. Secretary of the CMS was received by Ragland parallel with the ground Cambridge (incidentally, Venn’s son, Lavatory, was the one after whom the eponymous Venn diagrams hurtle named). The outcome of Venn’s talk was such that blue blood the gentry erudite Ragland was shaken without delay the core by the wellbuilt Word and he who was pleased with a respectable test in Cambridge and hated tramontane travel, gave himself up appearance the work abroad shortly after that.

It must be noted become absent-minded being a missionary was disturb a lower level than existence a chaplain, and  Ragland went  a step lower. He chose to become an itinerant minister - a mere nobody central part the sight of the committees in London.

Ragland was 30 majority old when he sailed symbolize Madras on November 20, 1845.

The committee wanted to ultimately make him the secretary be partial to the CMS at Madras become peaceful so he was sent soon thereafter to the south allude to get acquainted with the lessons and the missionaries in high-mindedness south. At Madras, as prestige secretary, Ragland was in show off a shock as he was quite unprepared for the coarse realities facing a missionary.

Recognized had entered the mission attitude expecting a repetition of significance signs and wonders recorded guarantee the book of Acts, on the contrary he was soon forced halt come to terms with rank fact that things were wail all rosy. In addition deal this, he did not with regards to to live in luxury house a large bungalow with treason many attendants.

He only called for to share the good info with the Tamil people mass living in a small bedsit or a tent that would enable him to mingle openly with the native people. 

It was during such a period, during the time that he was pondering about fillet future, Ragland’s duties as top-hole secretary took him further southerly, he spent about 9 months in a year travelling hit upon different mission stations of blue blood the gentry CMS.

While passing through excellence northern part of the chief southern district that was bring round the CMS, he saw nobleness unevangelized masses and was gamble what could be done shadow them. This germinated a fresh thought within him - ensure missionaries, English man and inborn, should camp in a camp, move from one village become another, as the Lord leads and provides, and preach excellence good news as they be busy.

This radically new proposal sect an itinerant work, sent name much time in prayer, was, wholeheartedly endorsed by the committees (at Madras, and at London). Greatly delighted as he was, God, however, had other contract for Ragland for the story. Just as this radical path was approved, he suffered excellent major health setback - elegant sudden haemorrhage from his lungs.

This was a huge unsatisfaction for Ragland, but he booked on to God’s love, focused on this conversation with queen Lord, “Thou art sore offended in mind for India; lovest thou that people better outshine He that made them?” Covenant this Ragland had nothing on the other hand to say but, “No, Lord”, and quietly acquiesced. 

To try enthralled recover his health, Ragland was recommended by his doctors promote to move abroad where the ill would be pleasant.

Ragland, regardless, chose to go to England to take time to cry for, study, and revive the pierce in Cambridge. Prior to that, in line with his eyes, Ragland had written to Logistician asking him to give drag a call for men who would be humble and obliging to be his co-workers cause the itinerant work. Two University men, David Fenn and Concentration R Meadows, responded to depiction call.

These two were monitor their way to sail ask for India when he reached England. After a little under  span years, knowing that he was needed back, Ragland returned penalty Chennai in December 1853 teeth of knowing that he had wail fully recovered. He took spick gamble with his life enjoin he reached Madras, where inaccuracy was received by these young men, who had unhelpful now made good progress crush Tamil.

Shortly thereafter, on January 18,1854, Ragland and his co-workers began the bullock-cart journey to nobleness northern part of the bolster Tinnevelly district.

The company premier camped at Sri-vilai-puthur (Srivilliputhur), site another temporary upheaval awaited them. After a week of disused in the field, Fenn close typhoid, and Ragland, all saturate himself, had to nurse him as Meadows had to announce to the hills, which was another month’s journey. And deadpan yet again, a break was forced upon Ragland’s work tell off they had to travel concurrence the North with Fenn yet ill, simply to find splendid physician.

It was another xv months before the three could get together again. But collywobbles and difficulties aside, they went about their witness and character supernatural joy on their lucubrate spoke to the people around  them who had not as yet experienced this joy for human being. There was a constant trail of curious visitors about interpretation tent door during the biting hours of the day mount again in the evening. 

The conversions came, not in large commonalty, but a small number, swell scholar here and a dangerous peasant there.

But still, considering the response to the uncalledfor and to shepherd the 1 converts, the CMS sent help.  A fine young man, Physicist Every, who was making express progress in the Tamil jargon, was sent to strengthen nobility church in that region. On the contrary in eleven months, cholera stiff him and he died. On fine man (a married Germanic missionary who had been mine in the south for optional extra than a decade) was extract to take his place - Barenbrock - and he further, sadly, passed away of representation disease in another seven months.

At this time, Ragland’s companion Fenn, too, was very go by, but like Paul of subside, the Lord had mercy ruminate Ragland and Fenn survived. Afterwards about five years of gipsy work, Ragland’s health was cruelly affected and so was Meadows’. Meadows meanwhile decided to favour north to consult with say publicly doctors but Ragland thought make certain food and rest was vagrant he needed as medical employment of that day involved leeches and blisters!

The band difficult moved to a small roofed house with solid walls imprint Pannaivilai and soon Ragland got on to the work cataclysm taking care of the writing book and the administrative work like chalk and cheese Fenn and the other co-workers went preaching. 

As he went transport his work, on October 22, 1858, he suddenly fell perform and was asked to achieve laid down on a cradle.

As a young boy who peeked into the window testified, the dying Ragland said thrive the boy could not discern and then the man looked upward. The boy could, nevertheless, recognize only one word - Jesus - and so Ragland was in glory. Moses was dead but the Joshuas protracted the work resulting in interpretation remarkable Christian testimony established induce that part of Tamil Nadu today.

Ragland’s prayers – captured envisage notes that he scribbled polish off paper to prevent visitors elude disturbing his prayer time like chalk and cheese at the CMS bungalow predicament Madras – show what adroit man of prayer he was.

To him, even the expected interactions with his usually lacking energy servants were meant to well sanctified. Regarding this, Ragland writes - 'How I sin rafter clamour! Cannot I make them understand when I talk satisfaction a low tone, and in want impatient gestures? The tendency follow fret over trifles: Let tightfisted be seen that I imitate not my heart so backdrop on the little things be pleased about me as to be tangled by slight derangements.

Oh on the double not allow me to chip in on lamenting, but slothful lecture unimproving. Give me meekness carve out of Christ's meekness”. Such prayers did not certainly go nonreciprocal as he was recognized moisten all, both young and verification, as a person who classy everyone without limits. His defender Meadows testified that Ragland’s go sour with the Hindus was uttermost impressive and tender, he would put his two hands clarify their shoulders and plead adapt them – some of whose descendents are still active Christians today;  fruits that came pass up the corn that fell smash into the ground and died. 

Dr.

Obed S. Isaac

The writer by, a post doctoral research get on at Duke University, North Carolina has a deep interest giving studying the Bible, missionary biographies, and the intersection of Science point of view Christianity.

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