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The
missions’ heritage of CMC is indeed rich and wide. The Mission
Office seeks to recollect and bring to light the details and the
events in the life of the missionaries who were involved with CMC
in several different ways. We start our series with the life of
Rev. Dr. John Scudder, the grandfather of Dr. Ida Sophia Scudder.
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REV.DR. JOHN SCUDDER |
Dr.
John Scudder was born in Freehold, New Jersey, in September 3rd 1793,
and he was the second of the twelve children that Joseph and Maria
Scudder had. He graduated in 1811 from Princeton and then went on
to study medicine. He completed his medical degree in 1815 from the
College of Physicians in New York. Due to his skill and his kindliness
and his peculiar knack of gaining the confidence of his patients,
he quickly established a good practice in New York and was earning
over $2000/- per year, which was a considerable sum at that point
of time. As a member of the Reformed Church on Franklin Street, he
stood out, even in those austere days, as one of remarkable spiritual
qualities. One night as he was visiting a
patient in New York, John Scudder's attention was caught by the title
of a pamphlet lying on the table. "The conversion of the world or
the claims of 600,000,000 and the Ability and Duty of the Churches
Respecting Them". He read it through.
Then, "Why doesn't someone do something about this?" He asked himself,
and immediately the reply flashed into his consciousness; "Why shouldn't
I?" This at that moment, to him was the voice of God. He bowed his
head and asked; "What will Thou have me do?" Again came that flash:
"Go heal the sick and preach the Gospel to those who have never heard
of Christ". He was 25 years old then. |
He consulted his wife, Mrs. Harriet Scudder regarding
his “Call”. They had one daughter, Maria, who was
2 years old. After weeks of prayer, she told him, “Whither
thou goest, I will go”. Dr. John then went on to offer
himself to the American Board of Commissioners of Foreign Missions.
He said, “I have made it a subject of serious and earnest
prayer for some time, that God would direct me in the path of
duty and that if it were my duty, he would open an effectual
door for this purpose….. if God should by his Holy Spirit,
influence the board to accept me, I will go forth in his strength
and proclaim the unsearchable riches of Christ”. The opportunity
he asked was to serve as both physician and minister in a land
where there were none of the former and few of the latter. It
was a unique undertaking. |
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But his father, Joseph Scudder, a reputed lawyer categorically
forbade John’s going as a missionary to a disease-ridden land,
which lacked not only the amenities of civilization but the very necessities
of life. He threatened to disinherit his son if he carried out his
“mad” project and he went on to carry out his threat.
On June 8th, 1819, 26 years old Dr. John Scudder
boarded the ship ‘Indus’ along with his wife Mrs. Harriet
Scudder, daughter Maria and their maid Amy from Boston’s Fulton’s
St. Dock and embarked on a journey that would significantly alter
the eternal destiny of many lives in this part of the world. Like
the patriarch Abraham, they went forth to a land they had not yet
seen with no thought of return. The American Board of Commissioners
for Foreign Mission was sending forth the first American Medical Missionary
on a missionary endeavour. Dr. John Scudder
was definitely a trailblazer for hundreds of his profession who have
gone out to the four corners of the earth. More than that, over 40
of his descendants then went on to contribute over a thousand years
(1074 years) in serving Christ in the mission field. Even those who
supported the ventures admired the conviction that led these men and
women to sacrifice homes, security, family-even life itself-and accept
permanent exile with such evident joy. What
was this conviction that inspired these people? The Gospel of the
grace of God, by which the individual is saved from his sins, was
held to be the supreme gift bestowed on man by the Redeemer who died
on the cross. No community made aware of this privilege had a right
to keep such a blessing to itself. “Go ye into all the world
and preach the gospel to every creature-” this was an imperative
command to be disobeyed at peril. What India, like the rest of the
world, needed, was a fuller knowledge and acceptance of the love of
God. To declare the love of God in Christ- that was what Scudder meant
by evangelism. Science and religion were not meant to be in hostile
camps but combined to make the whole man. This was the unique message
of the medical missionary, Dr. John Scudder, over two centuries ago.
The journey from Boston to Calcutta took four months and Dr.
John Scudder witnessed to many sailors during the journey and
many were converted. After their arrival in Calcutta, they proceeded
to Serampore to meet the man who is considered as the
Father of Modern missions- Dr. William Carey. From
this pioneer, Dr. Scudder and his associates learned much about
the start of missionary enterprises, especially what pitfalls
to avoid.
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While at Calcutta, little Maria was stricken with
dysentery and died within 3 days. They set out to Ceylon, to
reach Jaffna where Dr. John Scudder established his first dispensary.
However, in Ceylon, their 2nd daughter who was born died soon
after birth. The words of Dr. John Scudder at this point of
time display considerable faith. "This is a severe trial,
but we do not repine. We, however, must have the feeling of
nature. We must say that our trials have been heartrending …………
Perhaps our dear parents may be ready to say that we are sorry
and repent of our coming. No, we rejoice and thank the great
Head of the church for putting it into our hearts to leave America
and come and live among this people. I would not exchange situations
for a world. Blessed be God, I hope to be the unworthy instrument
of bringing souls to the dear Redeemer". |
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Nor
did Dr. John Scudder falter in his faith, when, in 1822, a little
son died soon after he was born. Again the father could say, "Thy
will be done", and could look on sorrows as opening the door to deeper
spiritual life and could hope that the loss of his own children would
mean a compensating increase in the size of his spiritual family-
the conversion of the multitudes unto the Kingdom of Christ.
(Dr. John and Harriet had thirteen children; 3
died as babies, one died by drowning while in Theological Seminary
- Mr. Samuel Scudder. The rest - seven sons and two daughters - came
back to India in response to the call of Christ. All of the sons were
ordained ministers and five of them were physicians as well). |
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One
might think that when this news reached Joseph Scudder he would relent.
However the letters from India were thrown into the waste basket unopened.
The mother rescued them and read them loud to her other children,
clearly and distinctly. Her husband, in an adjoining room, kept his
door open and heard every word John had written. Yet despite the sorrows
that befell him, the older man kept up the stubborn pretense of having
cast off his son. Even later when Dr. John Scudder's children, Henry
and William came to America for their studies, they were accommodated
by Mrs. Scudder's mother as the father had not yet reconciled with
Dr. John Scudder. Dr. John Scudder was ordained
on May 15, 1821 in a Wesleyan Chapel with Congregational, Baptist
and Methodist ministers performing the rite. He had started to preach
in Tamil by then and his usual medical work was started daily following
an exposition of the scriptures. He had also spent much time in the
surrounding country side and on the neighbouring islands, preaching,
teaching and distributing tracts which due to the lack of a printing
press, had to be written by hand on olai. The Palmyra leaf was torn
into strips for this purpose and on this the Bible story chosen was
laboriously written in Tamil script. His day began at six O' clock
or earlier. After an hour and half spent in prayer, meditation and
reading of his Bible, he used to start his clinic- usually up to 60
patients in the morning itself. He also took up people under his tutelage
for purpose of Christian medical training - a step which inspired
his descendants for many generations. Often
he had to face severe trials and persecutions including physical injuries
and even the threat of death in his pursuit to proclaim the Gospel.
He wrote "It may be my lot to pass through many such wretched scenes
and I desire to meet them whenever my Lord may call, but I must say
with all my religious philosophy and with my belief that we should
praise God as well in adversity as prosperity, such things are not
and cannot be agreeable to flesh and blood. Assistance from on high
is necessary to bear up under them with cheerfulness". |
Besides preaching and carrying on his medical
work, he started many Christian schools, throughout the district
as his private funds could finance. Mrs. Scudder meanwhile took
care of the sixteen boys and three girls they had adopted. He
was instrumental in starting 23 schools. In April 1832, Dr.
Scudder took his two elder sons, Henry & William aged 10 and
8 ½ to Colombo and put them on a ship bound to Boston, under
the care of the captain of the ship. For the parents it was
the first of a long series of heart rending ordeals which lasted
more than a decade as they sent their little ones, two by two,
half way around the world with small hope of ever seeing them
again! |
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In May
1836, the Board sent word that as long as Ceylon had received so many
new missionary recruits, Dr. Scudder and his associate, Mr. Winslow
should go to the main land and start work in Madras. Thus in 1836
the Scudders returned to India and started their work at Madras.
There was no end to John Scudder's ambition. There
were no limits to his vision. No sooner had he crossed to the mainland
and established himself in his new post than he began planning for
a Christian educational institution in Madras. He and Dr. Anderson
of the Church of Scotland were the most ardent advocates of such a
college. With this end in view, John made a trip through the jungle
to the west coast to visit British officials and get their sanction
and donations. On the trip back he was seized
with jungle fever, probably a form of malaria. Word was sent to Mrs.
Scudder that his life was despaired of. She did not hesitate, although
she was expecting a new baby within the month. A friend provided her
with a tent; bearers were engaged and provisions laid in. Accompanied
by her youngest son, John (Dr. Ida Scudder's father) she set forth.
There was a bare hope that she might find her husband alive, even
on the road to recovery. In order not to lose time, relays of bearers
had been engaged to carry her by night and day. When they were in
the depth of the jungle the bearers became frightened as night fell,
and hearing the roaring of the beasts, they fled precipitately leaving
Harriet and her little son exposed to the possibility of a horrible
death. What could she do? There was but one
thing. Taking her little son by the hand, she spent that night on
her knees in prayer. She heard the heavy tread of wild elephants,
which could have trampled them to death. Then came the growl of tigers
and other ravenous beasts, the sounds approaching and then receding.
They seemed to be circling round the spot where she knelt. She had
prayed to God and was sure that God held them back. When morning came,
she and her child were still safe. The cowardly bearers returned and
resumed their burden. She found her husband convalescent, the immediate
danger of death past, but his health badly impaired. They returned
to Madras where she gave birth to her 13th child, a daughter, whom
they named Louisa. Not even jungle fever could
stop Dr. John. As soon as he could stand he was off again to the hinterland,
preaching in towns and villages and distributing tracts to those who
could read them. (His colleague, Dr. Anderson, later founded the Madras
Christian College) He used to travel from
Madras to the nearby regions - especially did a lot of work at Kanjeepuram
and Wallaja. The frequent journeys, trials and hardship took its toll
on his health. Though he did take a few breaks to go to the Nilighiris,
finally he was persuaded to leave for America to restore his health
that he might be able on his return to labour more effectively for
the "Coming of the Masters Kingdom". Five of his children were already
there. In March 1842 he and Mrs. Scudder set out with the other five.
Nearly 23 years had elapsed since they sailed from Boston on the Indus:
then neither of them expected ever to return. Going back home was
to them a tremendous experience. One evidence of God's Providence
marked their homecoming. Joseph Scudder, who had sworn to have nothing
more to do with his son if he went to India, who had refused to write
to him and had ignored the claims of his grandchildren, now met the
exile on his return, opened his arms, and embracing him, restored
him to the home he had surrendered. In America
he preached to over hundred thousand children and youth in almost
every city of Atlantic sea board during his furlough. He spent much
time in sensitizing the people to the mission needs of the world.
They returned to India in 1860. John Scudder at this time was about
50 years old and relentless in his demands on himself as he was to
others. Once a cancer developed in his foot. He said nothing to his
wife. Shutting himself up in a room with only a servant to help, he
cut it out, with no anaesthetic and only the crudest of instruments.
He nearly fainted several times in the process but he finished the
job which must have been a very thorough one for there is no record
of it ever reappearing. Among the many admirable
qualities he passed on to his descendants were his consecration for
Christ, his sense of guidance by revelation and the inspiration that
enabled him to act. During this time, he had the grief of losing his
first grand child - Rev. Dr. Henry Scudder's son had died due to cholera
which struck Vellore.
Dr. John Scudder significantly contributed in the fight
against caste systems in the Church. The Madras Missionary Conference
at this time took a stand that resulted in the almost complete absence
of caste in the Mission churches - a remarkable achievement for the
missionaries when they had caste related problems surrounding them.
Dr. John Scudder
was bold in presenting the Gospel to the rich and the poor. He was
invited by the Raja of Puddukottah and operated on some of the important
people in the palace. Afterward he preached the Gospel to the Raja
and the others. He had written many pamphlets and booklets to raise
missions' awareness in America and England. His letter to the Prince
of Wales shows the missionary zeal he had in these ventures. |
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"Madras,
June 28, 1851
To His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales
May it please your Highness |
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I take
the liberty of sending to you a small volume relative to the condition
of the people in India. The first thing which will present itself
to your view on opening the book is a picture of the Hook Swinging,
which I have repeatedly witnessed in this country. On reading the
description of this ceremony, of the burning of widows with the corpses
of their husbands which still prevails in some parts of the country
not under British control, and of various other ceremonies, the feelings
of your Highness will become painfully interested. And I shall not
regret it, even should they become painfully interested, if the description
should be the means of leading you to praise Your Heavenly Father
for His distinguished mercies to the land over which Your illustrious
Mother has been called, in the Providence of God, to reign. |
Praying
that Your Royal Highness may in early life consecrate
Yourself to the Savior who loved You and died for You,
I beg to subscribe myself
Your Royal Highness' Most Obedient Servant,
J. Scudder. |
Around
this time his eldest son, Henry Scudder had finished his training
from Madras Medical College and joined his father. Their skills drew
considerably large number of patients. This caused lot of opposition
from the traditional healers and they at times resorted to even witchcraft
to harm the missionaries. In this year 1849,
Mrs. Scudder was stricken with tropical fever. As she was dying, her
youngest daughter, distracted with grief, cried, weeping, and "What
shall I do? What shall I do? "Read the 29th Psalm and do accordingly"
was the mothers reply. On the evening of November
18th, with her husband sitting by her head and some of her children
by her bedside, she opened her eyes and said with peculiar energy,
"Glorious heaven! Glorious salvation!" Those were her last words and
as her husband wrote, "She sweetly fell asleep in Jesus".
With his wife's death, something vital seemed to go from
Dr. John Scudder. He continued to work harder than ever, preaching
now thrice daily instead of twice as had been his practice.
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By 1854, Dr. Scudder health failed markedly and the mission
board booked a passage for him and his third son Joseph, on a ship
going to South Africa. He had refused to return to America and the
trip was planned to improve his health. While on the ship, his health
improved. After reaching South Africa - Wynburgh, he immediately started
preaching to the English speaking people. On January 13th 1855, he
preached in the morning and came back to his lodging to lie down and
rest before the evening service. Shortly before time for them to start,
Joseph went in to awaken him and found him apparently asleep. But
it was such a quiet sleep that the son realized it was his last and
that his father would preach no more. |
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There was an impressive service in the Dutch Reformed Church
in Wynberg and then accordingly to his previously expressed wish,
his body was taken to Madras and laid beside that of his wife. Then
from Madras the mortal remains were later shifted to Ranipet. The
Scudder's in India had assembled for a dedication, the interrment
service was read and a prayer offered. Then Aunt Ida removed the American
flag, uncovering the marble slab over the final resting place of Dr.
and Mrs. John Scudder. |
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Did Rev. Dr.
John Scudder ever dream about a mission venture in Vellore?
It is interesting to note that during one of his trips to India
from Ceylon (before he shifted to Madras) he did actually mention
about a vision about Vellore. He wrote in his diary on September
25th 1824, "This morning I went out to view the size of Vellore.
As it is situated at the base of a mountain, I thought I would
ascend it. After a half an hour's hard labour I had nearly reached
the top of it when I came to a fortification which surrounds
the peak of the mountain. The view is most charming. Vellore
is an excellent place for missionary labour. It needs a dozen
of labourers". |
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Over a hundred years later his grand daughter stood (Dr. Ida
Scudder) in the same spot, panting from her swift climb, sweat
pouring down her face. It was still early in the morning, for
she had started up the hill before sunrise. A dozen labourers?
There were a dozen dozen! Wiping the sweat from her eyes, she
focused them on the cluster of new buildings filling the large
walled space close to the foot of the hill, gleaming white,
block upon block of them, crowned by their majestic clock tower.
"Bravo!" a voice seemed to say in her ears, "Worth waiting a
hundred years to see!" So vivid was the impression that Dr.
Ida could actually feel him beside her. Dr. Ida laughed aloud.
Grand father John's dream fulfilled? Now at last, seeing the
new hospital gathered suddenly into the young sun's embrace,
she was convinced of its reality. |
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Again
like the patriarch Abraham , who though he did not see the land of
Israel physically , but believed in the promise of God , Dr. John
Scudder dreamed of a missionary venture in and around Vellore through
his spiritual eyes . His descendants went on to fulfil his dream -
their significant mission contributions include CMC Vellore, Scudder
Memorial Hospital at Ranipet, clinic at Wallaja , Arcot Mission ,
Arcot Seminary, Arcot Academy ( later this became Voorhees College
), Industrial Institute at Arni , Tindivanam High School, formation
of the Church of South India , publishing scriptural literature in
the local languages , translation of scriptures, Ladies Seminary at
Chittoor, an elaborate organization of schools etc. Above all they
significantly contributed to the development and sustenance of the
Arcot Church. Dr. John Scudder, the first
American Medical Missionary and his wife Mrs. Harriet Scudder, who
came to India in obedience to the call of God and had spent 36 years
of active service to build the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ -
What shall we say of them ?
Hebrew 11:13-16 " All these died in faith, without
receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them
from a distance and having confessed that they were strangers and
exiles on the earth. For those who say such things made it clear that
they are seeking a country of their own and indeed if they had been
thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have
had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country,
that is a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called
their God; for He has prepared a city for them. |
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Reference |
- A Thousand years in Thy Sight |
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- Ida S Scudder of Vellore –Dr. Pauline Jeffery. |
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- The Torch of Life – Ms. Dorothy Clarke Wilson. |
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