SCHWARZ, CHRISTIAN FRIEDRICH

SCHWARZ, CHRISTIAN FRIEDRICH, an eminent Protestant missionary, was born October 8, 1726, at Sonnenburg, a small town in the Electorate of Brandenburg. In his eighth year he entered the grammar school of his native place, and in a few years was removed to an academy of higher pretensions at Cöstrin. In 1746 he repaired to Halle, intending to become a pupil in the grammar school of the Orphan House, founded by Augustus Francke. But the missionary Schultz, who had recently returned from Madras, persuaded him to enter the university, where he attended the lectures of Michaelis and other professors of note, though still an inmate at the Orphan House. Schultz, who had been twenty years in India, was projecting an edition of the Tamil Bible, and prevailed on Schwarz to commence the study of that language, in order to assist him in bringing the translation through the press. His attention was thus directed to foreign missions, and at the suggestion of Professor Francke (son of the founder of the Orphan House) he formed the intention of devoting himself to this department of Christian labour. Before making his decision he visited Sonnenburg, to obtain his father's consent, which, after serious deliberation, was cordially granted. Schwarz gave a pledge of the disinterested spirit which animated his future course by renouncing his

share of his father's property in favour of his brothers and sisters. After spending some months at Halle he proceeded, August 8, 1749, to Copenhagen, for the purpose of receiving ordination in the Danish Church, to which the mission he was about to join belonged. In December he and two other missionaries repaired to England, with the twofold object of acquiring the English language and of obtaining the patronage of the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge, which had previously rendered important aid to the mission on the Coromandel coast. Early in 1750 they proceeded on their voyage, and arrived at Tranquebar July 30. Within four months from that time Schwarz preached his first sermon in the Tamil language. Though Tranquebar continued for some time to be his head-quarters, he paid frequent visits to Tanjore and Trichinopoly,—to the latter place he removed in 1766, and remained there about twelve years. He then left for Tanjore, where he spent the last twenty years of his life. At Trichinopoly he acted as chaplain to the garrison, and so great was his influence that they erected a church for his use capable of holding from 1500 to 2000 persons. The government of Madras allowed him a salary of L.100 per annum, which he devoted to the erection of a mission-house and school-room; and when these were completed, he applied one half of it to the relief of the poor. In 1769 he was introduced to the Rajah of Tanjore, who frequently held conversations with him on religious subjects, and though he never embraced Christianity, always countenanced Schwarz in his missionary labours. On one occasion he observed, "He makes out our gods to be downright demons. We must keep him here to instruct this foolish people." He would have made use of Schwarz's mediation with the English, but was opposed by the officers of his court. "Padre," he said, "I have confidence in you, because you are indifferent to money." Just before his death he committed to him the education of his adopted son and successor. Schwarz discharged his trust in a most effective manner, and succeeded in establishing the claims of the young prince to the throne, when the regent his uncle had attempted to set them aside. In 1779 he was called by the Madras government to undertake a private embassy to Hyder Ali. "Do not send me," said Hyder, "any of your agents, for I do not trust their words or treaties; but if you wish me to listen to your proposals, send me the missionary of whose character I have heard so much from every one: him I will receive and trust." The nabob answered all the questions put to him by Schwarz in a very straightforward manner, and on his leaving, after a stay of three months, presented him with 300 rupees to defray the expenses of his journey; but in accordance with his resolution "to keep his hands undefiled by any present," he appropriated the sum to founding an English orphan school at Tanjore. When Hyder invaded the Carnatic, the inhabitants were reduced to the greatest distress—on the one hand by the invader, on the other by the combined exactions of the English and their own ruler, and even the garrison at Tanjore was almost in a state of starvation. In this extremity Schwarz requested the cultivators of the surrounding districts to send in their cattle, simply pledging his word for their payment. In two or three days a thousand bullocks were thus obtained.

After labouring for nearly half a century in his self-denying vocation with an assiduity which places him in the first rank of modern missionaries, Schwarz died February 13, 1798, full of years and of honours. His direct success was perhaps greater than that of any other Protestant missionary in India; the converts from idolatry through his agency amounted to several thousands. The part he took in political transactions was evidently forced upon him, and prompted in no degree by worldly ambition. No man probably ever won such esteem and reverence from all parties,

though "he deprecated posthumous praise, and was in constant dread of fame." Mohammedans and Hindoos vied with his converts and countrymen in extolling his virtues and deploring his decease. The Rajah of Tanjore erected a monument, executed by Flaxman, in the mission church, in which he is represented as grasping the hand of the dying missionary, and receiving his benediction. The East India Company also sent out a splendid monument by Bacon, which was placed in St Mary's church at Madras. (Memoirs of the Life and Correspondence of Schwarz, &c., by Hugh Pearson, D.D., 3d edit., Lond. 1839.) (J.E.R.)