At that time the English had control of the city and to the joy of the visitors they besought them to stay, promising that they would build them a church. It was decided that Schwartz should remain.
|A True Lutheran.| In making this change an important question had to be solved by Schwartz. In order to take up the work which seemed offered by Providence, he would have to sever connection with the Danish Lutheran society whose missionary he had hitherto been and become a missionary of the Church of England. In the end he decided that he would accept English support but he stipulated that he would remain a true Lutheran, preaching the doctrines of his own faith. He was the first of many efficient German Lutherans who laid the foundations for the work of other churches, and who thus furnished an example of true brotherliness which has often been forgotten or overlooked.
|At Trichinopoli.| Schwartz had always been diligent, but now it seemed that his labors became superhuman. He had prayed for opportunity--here was unlimited opportunity! He had studied diligently--here were men of many tongues to whom he might preach. With true wisdom he began his work. With the methods of the Apostles as his model he trained the best of his converts to become missionaries to their own people. Each morning he sent them out, two by two, and each evening he listened to an account of their work. He added Hindustani and Persian to the languages which he already knew so that he might reach the Mohammedans and the court, and studied to improve his broken English so that he might preach to the English soldiers at the garrison. His ministrations to them after a serious explosion and a battle brought him gifts from the government and the soldiers. Presently he built at the foot of the mighty rock upon which stood a heathen temple a Christian church.
|At Tanjore.| Schwartz was now fifty-two years old. He had accomplished large tasks, yet the chief labors of his life were still before him. He learned to his amazement that the spirit at Tanjore had changed and he was urged to return, not for a short visit as before but to remain. The new Rajah of Tanjore sought his advice about the settlement of certain political differences, and finding a divine call in this summons, Schwartz left his work at Trichinopoli in the hands of others and took up his abode in Tanjore in a house presented by the rajah. Here, supported by the rajah, who, however, could not bring himself quite to the point of becoming a Christian, Schwartz lived for twelve years.
Here the English garrison was transformed as the garrison at Trichinopoli had been. Two churches were founded, one for the European residents, the other for native Christians. School houses were built in which English and Tamil were taught and where the Christian religion was openly proclaimed. These schools became the models for the great school system of the English government. A tribe of professional robbers forsook their evil lives as the result of Schwartz’s preaching, sent their children to the schools and settled down to the cultivation of the soil and to silk culture. With the city as a center Schwartz travelled in all directions encouraging, advising, aiding. He established a congregation at Tinnevelli, to the south, of which we shall hear later.
|The Missionary Statesman.| In the history of India Schwartz is described as the missionary statesman. Such without any will of his own, but on account of circumstances and his remarkable character, he became. Foreseeing war with a neighboring ruler in which Tanjore was likely to be besieged, he stored away quantities of rice upon which the people fed and which saved multitudes from death. When the rajah grew old the governor of the Madras presidency made Schwartz the head of a commission which was to rule in his stead, and when the rajah died he himself made Schwartz regent during the minority of his son. Schwartz tried to avoid this heavy responsibility, until the rajah’s brother proved cruel and incapable of governing. Then the mission house became the capitol of the province and for two years the “king-priest” reigned. After the heir had come to the throne, he consulted Schwartz on all important questions.
The character of this missionary hero is beautifully described by his biographer, Dr. Charles E. Hay.[[1]]
[1]. In Missionary Heroes of the Lutheran Church. Philadelphia: Lutheran Publication Society.
“In undertaking all the secular duties thus imposed upon him, the missionary was never lost in the statesman. He still gathered his children and catechumens about him daily, preached whenever a little company of people could be assembled and superintended the labors of the increasing number of missionaries sent by various European societies to India. These all recognized him as their real leader, and it was universally felt that the first preparatory step for successful missionary labor in southern India was to catch the inspiration and receive the counsel of the untitled missionary bishop at Tanjore. Around his residence building after building was erected--chapels, schoolhouses, seminaries, missionary homes, etc.--all set in a beautiful garden, filled with rare tropical plants. What a refuge for the wearied and perhaps discouraged catechist! What a scene of beauty and peace to allure the steps of the hopeless devotee of a heartless idolatry! But the center of attraction for all alike was the radiant countenance of the grand old man upon whom his seventy years rested never so lightly--never too tired to entertain the humblest visitor, always ready to help by word or deed in any perplexity.”
|Illness and Death.| In October, 1797, the old man fell ill. Thinking that his end was at hand he sent for the young rajah whose guardian he had been and urged him once more to hear the heavenly invitation. Would that we could record that this young man answered, like so many of his humble subjects, “I believe”! Improving somewhat, Schwartz summoned his pupils once more and went on with his work. The end came at last in February, 1798. With his grieving mission family gathered about him, he fell asleep, his last words being, “Into Thy hands I commend my spirit. Thou has redeemed me, Thou faithful God.”