the life of william carey-第45章
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Two years after the establishment of the mission at Serampore； David Brown； the senior chaplain and provost of Fort William College； took possession of Aldeen House； which he occupied till the year of his death in 1812。 The house is the first in the settlement reached by boat from Calcutta。 Aldeen is five minutes' walk south of the Serampore Mission House； and a century ago there was only a park between them。 The garden slopes down to the noble river； and commands the beautiful country seat of Barrackpore； which Lord Wellesley had just built。 The house itself is embosomed in trees； the mango； the teak； and the graceful bamboo。 Just below it； but outside of Serampore； are the deserted temple of Bullubpoor and the Ghat of the same name； a fine flight of steps up which thousands of pilgrims flock every June to the adjoining shrine and monstrous car of Jagganath。 David Brown had not been long in Aldeen when he secured the deserted temple and converted it into a Christian oratory； ever since known as Henry Martyn's Pagoda。 For ten years Aldeen and the pagoda became the meeting…place of Carey and his Nonconformist friends； with Claudius Buchanan； Martyn； Bishop Corrie； Thomason； and the little band of evangelical Anglicans who； under the protection of Lords Wellesley and Hastings； sweetened Anglo…Indian society； and made the names of 〃missionary〃 and of 〃chaplain〃 synonymous。 Here too there gathered； as also to the Mission House higher up； many a civilian and officer who sought the charms of that Christian family life which they had left behind。 A young lieutenant commemorated these years when Brown was removed； in a pleasing elegy； which Charles Simeon published in the Memorials of his friend。 Many a traveller from the far West still visits the spot； and recalls the memories of William Carey and Henry Martyn； of Marshman and Buchanan； of Ward and Corrie； which linger around the fair scene。 When first we saw it the now mutilated ruin was perfect； and under the wide…spreading banian tree behind a Brahman was reciting； for a day and a night； the verses of the Mahabharata epic to thousands of listening Hindoos。
〃Long； Hoogli； has thy sullen stream Been doomed the cheerless shores to lave； Long has the Suttee's baneful gleam Pale glimmered o'er thy midnight wave。
〃Yet gladdened seemed to flow thy tide Where opens on the viewAldeen； For there to grace thy palmy side Loved England's purest joys were seen。
〃Yon dome； 'neath which in former days Grim idols marked the pagan shrine； Has swelled the notes of pious praise； Attuned to themes of love divine。〃
We find this allusion to the place in Carey's correspondence with Dr。 Ryland：〃20th January 1807。It would have done your heart good to have joined us at our meetings at the pagoda。 From that place we have successively recommended Dr。 Taylor to the work of the Lord at Bombay； Mr。 Martyn to his at Dinapoor； Mr。 Corrie to his at Chunar； Mr。 Parsons to his at Burhampore； Mr。 Des Granges to his at Vizagapatam； and our two brethren to theirs at Rangoon； and from thence we soon expect to commend Mr。 Thomason to his at Madras。 In these meetings the utmost harmony prevails and a union of hearts unknown between persons of different denominations in England。〃 Dr。 Taylor and Mr。 Des Granges were early missionaries of the London Society； the Rangoon brethren were Baptists； the others were Church of England chaplains。 Sacramentarianism and sacerdotalism had not then begun to afflict the Church of India。 There were giants in those days； in Bengal； worthy of Carey and of the one work in which all were the servants of one Master。
Let us look a little more closely at Henry Martyn's Pagoda。 It is now a picturesque ruin； which the peepul tree that is entwined among its fine brick masonry； and the crumbling river…bank； may soon cause to disappear for ever。 The exquisite tracery of the moulded bricks may be seen； but not the few figures that are left of the popular Hindoo idols just where the two still perfect arches begin to spring。 The side to the river has already fallen down； and with it the open platform overhanging the bank on which the missionary sat in the cool of the morning and evening； and where he knelt to pray for the people。 We have accompanied many a visitor there； from Dr。 Duff to Bishop Cotton； and John Lawrence； and have rarely seen one unmoved。 This pagoda had been abandoned long before by the priests of Radhabullub； because the river had encroached to a point within 300 feet of it； the limit within which no Brahman is allowed to receive a gift or take his food。 The little black doll of an idol； which is famous among Hindoos alike for its sanctity and as a work of artfor had it not been miraculously wafted to this spot like the Santa Casa to Loretto？was removed with great pomp to a new temple after it had paid a visit to Clive's moonshi； the wealthy Raja Nobokissen in Calcutta； who sought to purchase it outright。
In this cool old pagoda Henry Martyn； on one of his earliest visits to Aldeen after his arrival as a chaplain in 1806； found an appropriate residence。 Under the vaulted roof of the shrine a place of prayer and praise was fitted up with an organ； so that； as he wrote； 〃the place where once devils were worshipped has now become a Christian oratory。〃 Here； too； he laid his plans for the evangelisation of the people。 When suffering from one of his moods of depression as to his own state； he thus writes of this place：〃I began to pray as on the verge of eternity； and the Lord was pleased to break my hard heart。 I lay in tears； interceding for the unfortunate natives of this country； thinking within myself that the most despicable soodra of India was of as much value in the sight of God as the King of Great Britain。〃 It was from such supplication that he was once roused by the blaze of a Suttee's funeral pyre； on which he found that the living widow had been consumed with the dead before he could interfere。 He could hear the hideous drums and gongs and conch…shells of the temple to which Radhabullub had been removed。 There he often tried to turn his fellow…creatures to the worship of the one God； from their prostrations 〃before a black image placed in a pagoda； with lights burning around it；〃 whilst； he says； he 〃shivered as if standing； as it were； in the neighbourhood of hell。〃 It was in the deserted pagoda that Brown； Corrie； and Parsons met with him to commend him to God before he set out for his new duties at Dinapoor。 〃My soul；〃 he writes of this occasion； 〃never yet had such divine enjoyment。 I felt a desire to break from the body； and join the high praises of the saints above。 May I go 'in the strength of this many days。' Amen。〃 〃I found my heaven begun on earth。 No work so sweet as that of praying and living wholly to the service of God。〃 And as he passed by the Mission House on his upward voyage； with true catholicity 〃Dr。 Marshman could not resist joining the party： and after going a little way； left them with prayer。〃 Do we wonder that these men have left their mark on India？
As years went by； the temple； thus consecrated as a Christian oratory； became degraded in other hands。 The brand 〃pagoda distillery〃 for a time came to be known as marking the rum manufactured there。 The visits of so many Christian pilgrims to the spot； and above all； the desire expressed by Lord Lawrence when Governor…General to see it； led the Hindoo family who own the pagoda to leave it at least as a simple ruin。
Corrie； afterwards the first bishop of Madras； describes the marriage of Des Granges in the oratory； and gives us a glimpse of life in the Serampore Mission House：
〃1806。Calcutta strikes me as the most magnificent city in the world； and I am made most happy by the hope of being instrumental to the eternal good of many。 A great opposition； I find； is raised against Martyn and the principles he preaches。。。Went up to Serampore yesterday； and in the evening was present at the marriage of Mr。 Des Granges。 Mr。 Brown entered into the concern with much interest。 The pagoda was fixed on； and lighted up for the celebration of the wedding； at eight o'clock the parties came from the Mission House ＇at Serampore＇； attended by most o
