Memoir of Anthony Norris Groves
MEMOIR
of
compiled chiefly from
HIS JOURNALS AND LETTERS;
to which is added
A SUPPLEMENT,
Containing Recollections of Miss Paget, and accounts of Missionary work in India, &c.
BY HIS WIDOW.
“Biography is the history of what God has done; and its faithfulness is its profit.” (Page 514)
THIRD EDITION.
LONDON:
JAMES NISBET & CO., BERNERS STREET.
MORGAN & CHASE, LUDGATE HILL.
BRISTOL:
sold at the bible and tract warehouse, 34 park street.
1869.
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CONTENTS.
His birth and family circumstances.—His education and professional establishment.—His residence at Exeter.—Early history of his protégé Dr. Kitto.—Exertions for Mr. Alexander and other converted Jews.—Letters to dir. Caldecott.—Sketch of that much esteemed friend. Page 1 to 22.
Indroduction.—Mr. Groves’s autobiography, commencing with his earliest missionary impressions and extending to the peroid when he determined to go to Persia.—Observations on his influence over others. 23 to 37.
Continuation of the autobiography, with a sketch of his religious views, and the origin of those convictions which originally distinguished the Christians called “Plymouth Brethren.”—Letters to Mr. Caldecott. 38 to 49.
Preparation for departure for Persia.—The missionary party.—Unexpected provision for the voyage, Stay at Petersburgh.—Journey through Russia.—Arrival at Bagdad. 50 to 75.
Mr. Groves seeks access to the poor of Bagdad, through the exercise of his surgical skill. The language and population.—Religious condition of the people.—Mr. Groves takes a house and commences an Arabic school.—Armenian schoolmaster.—Satisfactory progress of the children.—The Jews at Bagdad.—Political state of the Pashalic.—Quarrels of the nominal christians.—Dangerous state of the country.—Approach of pestilence,—Mr. Groves’s feelings at the close of his first year’s residence at Bagdad. 76 to 111.
Supply of their temporal wants—Full peace in the prospect of pestilence—Opportunities of usefulness—Promising state of the school—Actual appearance of the plague—Dissolution of the school—Resolution of mr. and mrs. groves to abide at their post—Awful mortality—Feelings of the people danger of inundation—Mr. groves exerts himselft to save the property of the resident—Difficulties as to the burial of the dead—Four thousand dying daily—Multitudes of orphans—Inundation of the city—Preservation of the missionary family till nearly the end of the plague—More than half the population swept away in two months—Description of the disease—Illness of mrs. groves—Her calmness and faith—Her suffering and peaceful departure—Others of the household attacked—Mr. groves’s arrangements and feelings in prospect of his own removal—His happy confidence when attacked by the plague—His speedy recovery decrease of the pestilence—Preservation of mr. groves’s children—His review of their work, and of his beloved wife’s preparedness for her heavenly rest. 112 to 171.
The man of faith amidst scenes of terror and desolation—Commencement of the siege of Bagdad—Conflicting reports—Mr. Groves’s new trials—His conversations with his patients—His danger from the balls and shells of the besiegers—Observations on various subjects—Misery of the besieged—Lawlessness of those within—Mr. Groves loses his beloved infant—His visit to the Pasha—Provision in time of famine—Entrance of the new Pasha—Mr. Groves’s illness—Restoration of tranquillity in Bagdad—Mr. Groves’s letters. 172 to 212.
Letter from Mr. H. Groves—Extracts from other letters—Circumstances of Mr. Groves’s departure from Bagdad—His arrival in Bombay—His voyage along the western coast of India—His visits to missionary stations—Notes of his daily meditations on the Scriptures. 213 to 251.
Journey inland to Palamcottah—The Tinnevelly mission—The journey with Mr. Rhenius—Visits to missionary stations up the country—First visit to the nilgherry hills. 252 to 265.
Coimbatore—Palanquin journey to Trichnopoly—Visit to Schwartz’s successor, and other missionaries—Arrival on the eastern coast—Visit to Jaffna—Mr. Groves’s great interest in that mission—Return to the continent of India—Journey along the eastern coast to Madras. 266 to 282.
Voyage from Madras to Calcutta in a little French brig—Mr. Groves’s objects and thoughts in connection with the Lord’s work in India—Striking appearance of Calcutta—Intercourse with Archdeacon Corrie and other servants of God in that city—Happy visit to Serampore—Visits to other missionary stations—Journey along the banks of the Ganges—Satisfactory visit to Mongheir. 283 to 302.
Visit to Patna intercourse with Mr. Start—Visits to Benares, Chuna, and Jaunpore—Second visit to Burdwan and its results—Second visit to Calcutta—Letter to Mrs. C. on the only way of leading a holy life—Intercourse with christians in Calcutta—Mrs. Wilson’s school—Dr. Duff’s institution—Motives of Mr. Groves’s return to England—Dr. Duff’s illness. 303 to 324.
Mr. Groves sails from Calcutta, in company with Dr. Duff and other interesting fellow-passengers—Circumstances of the voyage to Madras—His visit there, and happy parting prayer with Mr. Tucker—Bible studies—Services on board loss of his Bible discomforts of the voyage—Refreshing visit to the cape—Voyage home occasional services and observations on scripture—Thoughts on commending ourselves to every man’s conscience—A gale of wind off the cape—Description of scenery and of Cape Town—Interview with Mr. and Mrs. Deck—Meditations on many subjects he speaks to passengers on decision in God’s things, also on the love of God—Finds no resting-place but the ark—Diligence to the end in the study of the word—Thoughts when near England. 325 to 354.
Mr. Groves reaches England—Visits Germany and Switzerland in quest of labourers—Meets with great success—Returns to England—His marriage—He sails for India with his missionary party—Residence in Madras—Arrival of the Bagdad brethren—Trials in connection with the Tinnevelly mission—Visit of Mr. G. Baynes, who joins the mission—Departure of brethren from Bagdad. 355 to 369.
Removal to Chittoor—Happy result of his English ministry plans for a self-supporting mission among natives—Missionary tours—Accession of valuable missionary help—Account of Maccarthy and Macfarlane, also Mr. Walhouse—Departure of Dr. and Mrs. Gundert—Death of Mr. Walhouse. 370 to 394.
Mr. Groves’s plan for a self-supporting mission—Favourable commencement of the attempts to cultivate silk—Happy state of the mission—Source of subsequent trials—Failure of the silk worms—death of Mrs. H. Groves—Runganatham, the Brahmin—Mr. Groves’s adopted daughter—His expositions of Scripture in time of trial—Progress of missionary work at Chittoor—Happy death of Mrs. T. Hull—Extracts from letters—Visit from Mr. and Mrs. Lechler—The Church not a widow. 395 to 410.
Success of various plans for carrying on the Chittoor mission.—Mrs. Groves’s return to England.—Sudden reverse in circumstances.—Mr. Groves’s experience under trials, detailed in letters to his son, and to Mrs. Groves.—Visit to Madras.—Ministry there among Christians.—Arrival of Mr. and Mrs. F. Groves.—Return to Chittoor.—Visit to Bangalore.Page 411 to 431.
Continuation of Journal.—Mr. Groves visits Ootacamund.—Kind reception by his friends.—Union with all saints.—Korah’s Rebellion.—Mrs. Gundert.—Happy result of his visit to many.—Catholicity of Messrs. Fox and Noble.—Services on the Lord’s Day.—Fluctuating experience.—Pilgrim character of God’s People.—Return to Chittoor through Mysore and Bangalore.—Honey in the Lion’s Carcase.—English School at Chittoor.—Church order and discipline.—Visits to many in Madras.—Ministry in Black Town and other places.—Accountof Dr. C.—MacCarthy.—Notes of Poonamalee.—Aroolappen.—Union with all.—Reflections on God’s ways and many parts of Scripture.—Faith in a dark day.—Madras city Mission.—Various Spiritual Reflections.Page 432 to 453.
Mr. Groves visits England.—His feelings on this occasion.—Account of overland route.—Arrival in Bristol.—Visits in Devonshire, London, and Scotland—Return to Bristol—Events which took place there—Sails for India—Reaches Chittoor—Account of his work there—Changes in Society—Failure of his own health.Page 454 to 473.
Failure of Mr. Groves’s health—His return to England with Mrs. F. Groves determined on—He parts with his family at Chittoor—Leaves Madras, with Christian friends, by steamer, August 14th—Some account of overland route—Experience of God’s help in sickness and various trials by the way—He lands at Southampton, and goes to Bristol Some account of his ministry there—Happy visits at Barnstaple, Bristol, and Tottenham—Variable accounts of his health—He visits Sidmouth, Exmouth, and Torquay—Interest excited by him about missions at Tottenham and Hackney—He visits Malvern—Rapid decline in his health, and happy experience of God’s help in sickness—He returns to Bristol—Letters and Journals of various friends describing the peace and triumph granted him at the last—Some account of his death and funeral.Page 474 to 512.
Conclusion.Page 513 to 525.
CONTENTS OF THE SUPPLEMENT.
Her influence with Mr. Groves and others.—Reflections on her character.—Catholicity of heart.—Her death and Funeral.—The reminiscences of her sister.—Death of her sister.—Extracts from letters.—The estimate of faith.—Faith’s conflicts and victory.—Spiritual growth.—Resignation to God’s will. 557 to 570.
Early history.—Leaves Mr. Groves.—His independent position.—His fellow labourers.—Time of the mutiny.—Account of Aquilla who gives himself to preaching.—His death.—School and printing press.—A year of famine.—Encouraged in his work.—Extracts from his journal.—Letter to Mr. Start.—Caste prejudice.—Remarks on his letter.—Commencement of the revival.—The converts begin to preach.—The work deepens.—Sinners awakened.—The second coming.—The power of the truth.—Death of Elias.—Letter to Mr. H. Groves.—Extracts from his journal.—Heathen confessions to the truth.—Expectations of a coming one.—Another letter.—On the commencement of the revival.—The printing press.—Trial of faith.—Notices of the revival in the Church Missionary intelligence.—Testimony of Church Missionaries.—Letter from Aroolappen’s son,—Mr. Valpy’s testimony.—Mr. Dibb, on the working of the Spirit.—Native testimony.—Extracts from the Indian Watchman.—Testimony to the revival by Church of England Missionaries.—Unsectarian character of the revival.—The awakened.—Salvation of relatives.—Subsequent History.—Letter to Mr. F. Groves.—A new year’s meeting.—Trials by the way.—Colonel Dobbie at Palamcotta.—Letter to Mr. Start.—Missionary Tours.—Intercourse with Church Missionaries.—His last letter.—The Evangelist Yasudasan.—His fellow labourers.—His sudden death,—Letter from his son.— The following annual meeting,—Mission arrangements.—Conclusion. 571 to 640.
Mission work.—A young man awakened.—Village preaching.—The dying child.—Work in the boys’ school.—Evangelistic labors.—Interesting case of conversion.—Natives baptized.—Increased facilities.—Native Evangelists.—Conclusion. 641 to 652.
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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