a state of secession. When the
first death took place among them, Nyanapracasem, the one conforming
priest, was appointed to read the funeral service; but he fell sick, and
the only substitute available on the spot was a low-caste catechist, a
very respectable man, but whom the Soodras silenced with threats,
employing one of their own people in his stead. Next time, they borrowed
the Roman Catholic burial-ground, and services were carried on, on
Sunday, by one of the dissentient priests, but marriages were celebrated
in the heathen fashion, and there was evidently a strong disposition to
form a schism, which the reckless, easy, self-willed conduct of the
Soodras showed would be Christianity only in name. There had even been
an appeal to the Governor-General, and the Bishop felt the whole tone of
Christianity in India to be at stake.

It was in the height of this crisis that his journey to Madras was made
in the track of Bishop Heber. Twice he preached at Vepery, and the
Soodras attended; but he asked no questions, and let them place
themselves as they chose, and take precedence, intending to fight out the
question at Tanjore.

There, at seven o'clock in the morning of January 10, 1835, on the bank
of the Cavery River, he was received by all the faithful Christians and
school-children, headed by Kohloff and Nyanapracasem, These were the two
remaining fellow-workers of Schwartz. Kohloff, now becoming aged, had
his hair long and loose round his florid German face; he was still a true
German, full of simple kindness, and his English had a good deal of
accent. His Hindoo companion was a beautiful old man, with long snowy
hair flowing over his long white robes, who took the Bishop's hand
between both of his, and blessed God for his coming, hoping that as
Elijah brought back the stiff-necked Israelites, so the Bishop might turn
the hearts of the Soodras.

Late that afternoon, a great party of these assembled to lay their
complaints before the Bishop, bringing their two dissentient priests. One
was of doubtful character, and was unnoticed; but to the other, John
Pillay, the Bishop addressed himself, telling him to assure the other
Christians that his heart was full of love, and that he would hear their
grievances, and answer them another time, when less weary with his
journey.

Several spoke, and the Bishop listened to their individual cases. They
were anxious to come and hear his sermon, but would only do so if all