The Portland daily press., 1892-04-09
JOHN. E CLouGH, D. D.
A Remarkable Career and Remarkable
Work.

now preaching in Mr.. Surgeons pulpit,
in London, has work entitled, "The
Miracles of Missions'' 1t is an attempt
to narrate some of the wonderful occur
rences in the history of modern missions
which remind us of like occurrences in
the apostolic age. One of his chapters
is devoted to the Telegu mission in India
under the charge of the American Bap-
tist Missionary Union. ''No mission in
the world,' he says, prosecuted by any
Christian denomination, can so arouse,
enlist and compel the attention of pub
lie assembly; no mission in the past OF
present has a record so marvellous.
This is strong language, but is warrant
ed by the facts. Rev. Lyman Jewett, D.
D., who was born in Waterford, Me-,
March 9, 1918, devoted himself to mis-
sionary work, and reached Nellore, In
dia, April 16, 1S49. So little was the
prospect of success in this field that in
1853 it was almost decided by the Union
to abandon it, For ten years and more
there was little progress. In 1866 the
mission had only 5S members. But,
from this time, the work began to devel-
op. In 1875, the membership was 4, ,394.
In 1889 the membership had increased to
81 ,4S2. In 1891 the membership was Al
Sal. 1t is now about 10000. The facts,
therefore, justify the statement OF one OF
! the most careful students OF missions,
''The history of the Christian church
furnishes no parallel to the marvellous
growth of the American Baptist Telegu
Mission, since the primitive times imme-
diately following the day of Pentecost. ;"
Rev. John E. Clough, D. D., became
connected with this mission in 1865. He
was born in Chautauqua county, New
York, July 16, 1886. He lived the usual
life of farmers son till he was nearly
II years of age. When he was at the
age of eight his parents removed to the
State of Illinois, and five years later to
Iowa, then very new country; the abo-
riginal Indians had but recently left it.
When young Clough was II, he joined
the United States survey, proceeding to
the territory of Minnesota Here he
spent the succeeding four years, at the
end of which time he had risen to the
post Of deputy surveyor under the gov
ernment, with a salary about as large as
he receives today, after more than 25
years toll in the foreign mission field.
Being desirous of more education, he
threw up his appointment, with all its
lucrative prospects, and went to college
at Burlington, Iowa, thinking to study
for few years, and then enter the pro-
fession and practice of the law. Mr..
| Clough had not been in college many
months when the Lord turned both his
heart and his head in different direc-
ton; but it was not till two years. fur
ther study that he yielded to the unmis-
taxable call of Gedse His anticipations
of legal success had been high, and a
stern struggle was needed to make him
relinquish them. While he was study
ing for the Christian ministry, Rev. DR..
S. M. Osgood, then returned missiona-
ry from Burma, came along to the col
lege at Burlington, and that visit was
the starting point of the young Students
missionary aspirations. After he gradu-
ated, however, the fire appears to have
burnt low. for he engaged himself in the
work of teaching, and for a time dis
missed the missionary idea.
Tt was recalled at length, however, by
call for a Christian worker in SIAM
After reflection, Mr.. Clough resolved to
answer it, but when he sent in his appli-
cation he found the post had been filled.
| The members of the committee of the
American Baptist Missionary Union, to
whom he applied, kept him in view, how
ever, and he was shortly after invited to
Boston to meet them. In August, 1864,
he was accepted as a foreign missionary.
and was asked where he would like to be
sent. He replied that as he could not be
sent to Siam, he would put himself into
their hands; to be sent wherever they
might choose. just then Dr. Jewett,
missionary to the Telugus, was at home
seeking to revive an interest in that field.
For nearly thirty years the missionaries
| had toiled and seen little fruit of their
devoted labor. DR.. Jewett, however,
was determined not to relinquish the
work, and as he was returning to India,
the Boston committee resolved to asso-
ciate Mr.. Clough with him in what SEEM
| ed folorn hope.
In November, 1864, Mr.. Clough was
ordained at Burlington, Iowa, and i'm
mediately started with his wife to join
DR.. Jewett at Boston. Three days later
the party sailed for Madras, which was
reached in March, 1865. After the lapse
of two or three weeks they proceeded to
Nellore, then the headquarters of the
mission. They found matters at a very
low ebb. There seemed to be no desire
on the part of the people for the Gospel
message, but the reverse. They were
glad to receive the benefits of secular
education, but they wanted no Bible
| teaching. Such was the Introduction
that Mr. Clough had to his work as
missionary to the heathen.
Devoting himself to the language, he at
length had a sufficient command OF it to
engage in his work. Seed was sown and
ere long there were signs Of spiritual
movement among the people. A Hindu
priest, near whose house Mr.. Clough
often preached, became very much in
terested, and ultimately professed faith
in Christ. He brought his idols to Mr..
g., u Ia