|The Son of a Pious Mother.| Young Ziegenbalg had been influenced, as most candidates for the ministry are influenced, by a pious mother. Both his mother and father had died so early that he could remember very little about them. One recollection, however, was clear in his mind. Dying, his mother had called her children to her bedside and had commended to them her Bible, with the words: “Dear children, I am leaving to you a treasure, a very great treasure.” Earnest and pious, anxious for communion with God, the young man, who was brought up by a sister, prepared himself for the ministry. He studied at Berlin and afterwards at Halle. There his poor health was a cause of deep discouragement, but Francke reminded him that though he might not be able to work in Germany he might seek a field in some foreign country with a more equable climate.
|Called to the Mission Field.| When his health failed, Ziegenbalg left Halle and took up the work of a private tutor. He continued his devotional studies, however, and held such meetings as Spener had begun. He formed a friendship at this time with Henry Plütschau, another Halle student. Together the two covenanted “never to seek anything but the glory of God, the spread of His kingdom and the salvation of mankind, and constantly to strive after personal holiness, no matter where they might be or what crosses they might have to bear.” In 1705, Ziegenbalg accepted a call to a congregation near Berlin. It was here that he was found by the inquiry of the Danish court chaplain Lütken. He accepted at once, declaring that if his going brought about the conversion of but one heathen he would consider it worth while. His friend Plütschau was anxious to go also, and, ordained by the Danish Church, the two sailed from Copenhagen on the ship “Sophia Hedwig” November 29, 1705, for Tranquebar.
|A Long Journey.| The journey round the Cape of Good Hope consumed seven months, during which time each of the young missionaries wrote a book. On July 9, 1706, they arrived at their destination. There, owing to a difficulty with the captain who had resented their admonitions, they could not land for two days. It was well that they did not know that he had been instructed by the trading company under which he sailed to hinder their work in all possible ways. Unwillingly received by the Danish governor, they settled in a little house near the city wall.
Beside the Danish of the traders, two languages were spoken in Tranquebar: the Portugese of the first foreign settlers and the native Tamil language. Leaving the easier task to his companion who was the older, Ziegenbalg set to work to learn the native tongue. His progress was rapid; in a year he had completed a translation of the Catechism and in a few months over a year had preached his first sermon. By this time he had baptized fourteen souls.
|Busy Days.| The record of his busy days seems almost incredible when we remember that he was a man of delicate health.
“After morning prayers I begin my work. From six to seven I explain Luther’s Catechism to the people in Tamil. From seven to eight I review the Tamil words and phrases which I have learned. From eight to twelve I read nothing but Tamil books, new to me, under the guidance of a teacher who must explain things to me with a writer present, who writes down all words and phrases which I have not had before. From twelve to one I eat, and have the Bible read to me while doing so. From one till two I rest for the heat is very oppressive then. From two to three I have a catechisation in my house. From three to five I again read Tamil books. From five to six we have our prayer-meeting. From six to seven we have a conference together about the day’s happenings. From seven to eight I have a Tamil writer read to me, as I dare not read much by lamplight. From eight to nine I eat, and while doing so have the Bible read to me. After that I examine the children and converse with them.”
When the two missionaries felt that it was necessary to build a church, each gave for that purpose half of the two hundred dollars which was his salary. The church was dedicated on August 4, 1707, and by the end of the year it had thirty-five members. Now Ziegenbalg began to work in the villages of the Danish possessions outside Tranquebar and established a school for the education of Christian children in the city.
STALL HIGH SCHOOL FOR GIRLS, GUNTUR, INDIA.
