The time now came for him to be removed to a better school, to complete the knowledge of Latin, Greek, and Hebrew which he had up to a point acquired. Schwartz was now in his sixteenth year and his father took him to the adjoining town of Cüstrin, where he might at a more advanced academy prepare himself for the University course. It is clear that this wise parent foresaw the risks which lie in wait for a youth away from home, and as he walked with his boy, giving him many admonitions, he also told him that he must exercise self-denial, live a life of economy and simplicity, fear God, and not forget his father. He showed his wisdom in giving him only a limited supply of pocket money, which would at any rate be a safeguard against luxury and its many temptations, to which some of his fellow-students soon fell an easy prey. When he came home for his first vacation his father took him aside and gave him again some excellent advice. “My dear Frederick,” he said, “you may perhaps have sometimes repined on comparing your homely food and clothing with that of others, and possibly you may have thought that your father did not love you so much as the parents of some of your friends, but I trust that your own good sense and the painful example of their failure will have led you to perceive my reason for inuring you to hardships and never encouraging you to self-indulgence. I may now justly hope that in whatsoever situation it may please God to place you, you will be qualified to sustain it.”
We have no clue to the character of his new headmaster at Cüstrin, but the parish clergyman, named Stegmann, was undoubtedly an earnest and devout preacher and awakened in the young student a desire for spiritual progress. But while outwardly living a life which did not discredit his father’s counsels and being diligent and successful in his studies, he had not yet fulfilled his confirmation vows. To someone who urged him to be a whole-hearted Christian he excused himself on the ground that it was difficult, if not impossible, to be over-religious amid the conditions of life at Cüstrin. He had yet to learn that in circumstances adverse to a deep spiritual experience there is the greater and urgent need for making a definite stand for God. His studies were, however, interrupted by two severe attacks of illness, which were not without profit to him, for we can generally correct our estimate of the real value of things from the standpoint of a sick bed. But in the providence of God the discipline of sickness was assisted by the kindly interest of a friend. He had been in the habit of visiting a gentleman who was a man of study, much respected by the Professors at the Halle University. The daughter of this good man, a girl of great piety, became much interested in the young student. She tried her best to persuade him to commit himself wholly to the mercy and care of God and lent him books from her father’s library to help him. One of these greatly took his fancy; it was the story of the founding of the Orphan House at Glaucha, near Halle, entitled “Demonstrations of the Footsteps of a Divine Being yet in the World,” by that famous divine and philanthropist, Augustus Hermann Francke. This book much inspired him; the faith of such a patient and persistent worker, the difficulties he overcame and the gladness of achievement, all made a deep impression upon the mind of young Schwartz. It gave him an increased desire to visit the scene of such a noble labour and probably awoke in his heart the first stirrings towards his future life work. Indeed, on leaving Cüstrin he made his way at once to Halle with the intention of entering the Grammar School at the Orphan House. He was being led on step by step. Before taking this course he was influenced greatly by the advice of Benjamin Schultze, who, as we have seen, had recently returned from the Madras Mission invalided. What communications they had and how far the old missionary fired the zeal of his young friend we have no evidence, but this we know, that upon the advice of Schultze he entered at once the University of Halle, being now in his twentieth year. His thirst for knowledge was shown by the way in which he made the most of his opportunities, attending lectures under his professors, Baumgarten, Michaelis, Knapp, and Freylinghausen. While studying at the University he lived at the Orphan House and thereby was brought into daily contact with its venerable founder, Professor Francke, whose influence over young Schwartz at this time was the means of bringing him to a decision for Christ and His service. The fact that he was associated with a University famous for its missionary interests and also lived in the atmosphere of godliness at the Orphan House, contributed to his full determination to devote himself to service in the foreign field and the well-being of his fellow-men.
He became preceptor in the Latin School of the Orphan House and it was his duty in that capacity to gather the scholars and the servants of the establishment together every morning for family prayers and at the same time to give them an exposition of some portion of Holy Scripture. This was also a preparation for his future sphere of work. The principal of the Orphan House, G. P. Weiss, took a lively interest in him, and he also received much benefit from the Divinity lectures delivered by Dr. Francke, the son of the founder of the work. Here then, under excellent auspices, he was able to practise habits of self-denial and thrift and to live that simple life which was so much impressed upon him by his father.
A special opportunity presented itself after Schwartz had completed three years of his term at the University. It was in the mind of the old missionary, Schultze, to prepare a new and corrected edition of the Holy Scriptures in the Tamil language, and also a tract in the same tongue to be sent out for distribution among the natives of India. Young Schwartz was asked to qualify himself to help in the preparation of these by studying Tamil and for some months this new engagement occupied much of his time. While he was still working at this the call came for him to devote himself henceforward to a missionary life and service.
A
MAP OF INDIA
TO ILLUSTRATE
THE LIFE OF C.F. SCHWARTZ.
1750-1800
At this time the work in India was passing through anxious times; the French had captured Madras, and Fabricius was compelled to fly with his little flock, leaving behind the devastated mission buildings. But afterwards, when the British troops had turned the tide of war, the Lutheran missionary was invited to take charge of the church buildings at Vepery, from which the Romanists had been ejected for their treason. The call for fresh helpers was urgent and Fabricius pleaded for reinforcements. In response Professor Francke was asked to select some fit men in the University to go out and take up this work, and it is not surprising that Schwartz should have been selected and recommended. He was evidently prepared for this and readily consented, but stipulated that his father’s permission must be obtained. After much prayer, for he felt the turning point in his life had come, Schwartz hastened homeward to his native Sonnenburg. At first his reception was by no means favourable. He was the eldest son, and the whole family were looking forward to his advancement as a Lutheran clergyman at home, and even his father quite naturally hoped that, as he was getting into years, this worthy son of his would take his proper place as head of the family. It was a crisis, one which has occurred in the life of many a young missionary on the threshold of his career of divine service. At such a time we often extend to the young son a deep sympathy, which, however, in justice ought to be shared with his parent. In the case of Schwartz’s father, the decision involved so much that he took three days to consider his duty, and when this time of waiting had expired the family expected that their own views on the subject would be promptly confirmed. But the old man had taken counsel of God, and he was ready, like Abraham, to make any sacrifice in obedience thereto. He came downstairs and laid his hand upon the shoulder of his expectant son, bidding him God-speed and granting him his blessing and approval, asking him never to forget his own country and his father’s house, but to go in God’s name to win many souls for Christ. The brave old man little thought how much he was giving for the welfare of the world.
The young man had made his resolve, his father’s blessing had been obtained, and he forthwith burnt his boats by handing over to his brothers and sisters the portion which would have fallen to him, and hastened back to Halle with a light heart, full of thankfulness for the past and plans for the future. His choice was soon tested by the offer of a lucrative appointment in the ministry of his Church at home, but his mind was fully made up and henceforward his face was steadfastly set towards the foreign mission field. The claims of India were laid upon his heart, and he longed to be going where he felt sure God had called him. Two other young men had also been selected for the work by Dr. Francke; David Poltzenhagen of Willin in Pomerania, and George Henry Hüttemann of Minden in Westphalia. On the 8th August, 1749, the three arrived at Copenhagen to receive Holy Orders. A month later they were prepared for this sacred office by the counsels and instruction of Dr. Hersleb, Bishop of Zealand and Primate of Denmark, and in due time, on the 17th September, they were ordained by Bishop Horreboa to the office of ministers. It only remained for them to bid farewell to their families and friends, and Schwartz parted from his aged father, never to see his face again, and received many good wishes from the old comrades and professors at Halle University. It was thought better for the party to go to India by an English vessel, so they embarked at Helvoetsluys and arrived at Harwich on the 6th December, 1749, and so on through Colchester to London. Their stay in the great city was only about six weeks and they were comfortably lodged in Kensington. From the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge the young missionaries received a hearty welcome, and every possible arrangement for their comfort and travelling requirements was made by that Society. In the Royal chaplain, the Rev. W. Ziegenhagen, they found a wise and helpful friend, and one of the pleasant memories which Schwartz carried away with him from our English shores was the kindness which he and the other out-going missionaries received from this good man. They were able to get a little practice in English during their stay and also had the opportunity of preaching in our pulpits. Arrangements were made for them to embark on the “Lynn” under Captain Egerton, the directors of the East India Company having kindly granted them a free passage. Writing from Deal, where he was awaiting the vessel’s arrival, Schwartz expresses his grateful thanks in a letter written to Dr. Francke on 24th February, 1750, and also in another previously written from Kensington on the 18th of the preceding month. The following extracts in the order in which they were penned, are full of interest:
“God hath ordered all things well on the voyage. Our hearts (more especially mine) were very cheerful during the storming and raging of the sea; and I have frequently reminded myself of the 46th Psalm with great joy. Praised be God! This ought to be the beginning, middle and end of my letter. If God maketh this only to resound in our hearts, that the Jehovah, our sun and shield, is with us, we can then not only be tranquil but cheerful.
“Our occupations here have been of singular use and a great refreshment to us. In every difficulty we could have recourse to the Rev. Mr. Ziegenhagen, the venerable chaplain of His Majesty, who has behaved to us with paternal kindness and has given us such plain directions as we, like inexperienced children, stood in need of. This was our daily occupation, to take lessons and receive instructions. Then we had also to preach a few sermons; I twice, namely, once in the Royal Chapel on the first day of Nativity and afterwards for the Rev. Mr. Pittins at the Savoy; Mr. Poltzenhagen four times and Mr. Hüttemann three. May God bless what has been spoken in great weakness.”