Catching Up on AG's College Years

September, 1889 begins junior year at Wooster. AG is boarding at Miss Alexander's club. He has to walk four block for meals: "exercise is a good thing and don't make the beefsteak any tougher." Nor more tender, apparently. Summer vacation was spent at Herseman, Illinois, and the surroundings on certain occasions were very agreeable. "I embraced some very precious opportunities in trying to better the conditions of a poor fellow."

"Another year of student life is before me. What will the record be?

My influence may become greater and more for good I believe than it has been in the past.

I sincerely ask God's help to live a pure and holy life, and one that will be helpful to fellow students.

I need to go to work, conscientiously, determinedly, persistently, attentively, systematically and prayerfully.

Oh Thou Triune God, my Heavenly Father, My saviour, my Comforter, my Guide, help me."

The next journal entry is on Jan. 8, 1890 which was spent happily in Herseman with his Uncle and family. With everyone at home, it is likely that more very precious opportunities arose. On January 20th he writes Ella's name in his journal for the first time.

India Mission Dinner

With the help of folks from the Flower Guild and Church and Community Committee, the dinner on Saturday, October 24th went off without a hitch. People liked the food, although there were some who thought it was very spicy. They were encouraged to use more raita to cool things off. The dessert rice pudding, kheer, was very popular and we ran out.

Entertainment was a film, Sita Sings the Blues, a retelling of the classic Indian tale The Ramayana. It is animated and produced by Nina Paley, an American woman who wove her own marital story into Sita's. There was humor throughout and great jazz standards making the film unusual and highly creative. You can find it on the PBS website.

I got a cold while my sisters were here, but it didn't interfere with our good time together. After they went home I took a couple of days to just rest. the body was clearly sending a message. I'm feeling much better and working on communication with the Church of North India. And getting ready for kitchen renovation.

Next post will return to the story of AG McGaw.

India Mission Network Meeting

October 21st and 22nd, 2009 found me in Cincinnatti, Ohio with Jimmy Hulsey, Pastor of the Smithtown Presbyterian Church. Our purpose was to attend the India Mission Network meetings held prior to the Presbyterian Worldwide Mission Conference. Mission Networks bring together Presbyterians from around the United States who share a common international mission focus. Each Network centers around a specific country, people group or program area of ministry.

We used our time together to become familiar with one another and our unique mission outreach. I was delighted to meet Sue Hudson, recently returned from India. Sue has established contacts with members of the Church of North India and will be very helpful in linking us with the staff who will be most able and happy to smooth our way.

Led by Margaret L. Shafer, we examined perspectives surrounding Conversion, and our role as witnesses to the love we experience through Jesus Christ. She helped us to review the Hindutva movement and Hindu responses to religious pluralism. And we examined how our witness can be life affirming in the context of India.

Jimmy volunteered to put together a list of our important contacts in India, along with a description of our mission activities, and contact information for each of us. This tool will be helpful to anyone interested in India and particularly for India Mission Network members as we further develop relationships with one another. Eventually this information will be posted on the PCUSA website.

Preparations continued today for the India Mission Dinner at the Smithtown Church tomorrow. Floral centerpieces are ready, rajma and kheer are made. The program is written and tomorrow final touches (like setting tables, heating food, decorating) will be completed. My sisters, Eleanor and Michelle are coming and we plan to spend a couple of days together after the dinner. Looking forward to it all.

Back to AG at Wooster

Year 2, College of Wooster - Letters from home are noted, including a brief summary of the contents and school life continues much the same. Attendance at YMCA meetings, Mission Board meetings, prayer and lectures and sermons continue to be highlights. His little journal contains sermon titles and reflection on Christ. He is taking Trigonometry, Latin, Greek, Biology and Recitation in addition to religion classes.

AG still rooms with Ed who is in the know about all kinds of campus happenings and has visitors, some of whom smoke. The entry for October 27, 1887 stands out from all the seriousness of other entries. "Sat. eve. Cloudy chilly day - have been to YMCA business meeting had a good one also mission board prayer. Have not studied much today. The excitement following the chicken stealing expedition has run high at times. Since it occurred last night as I became awake, about 1 o'clock last night by the crowd coming in my room to talk over the affair with Ed. I guess the thieves had a spiteful joke played on them, and badly scared. Lively times at table if Prohibition happens to come up for discussion." Concern for the poor farmers, wagons, small buildings and dogs as Halloween approaches.

Nov. 22 '87 Nightly meetings were held at the YMCA for 10 consecutive days. AG was blessed by having his own heart revived, but there were no professions of conversion. He exhorts himself to Be Cheerful, Be Neat, Do everything carefully.

Christmas vacation was spent pleasurably in Toledo with cousins where he enjoyed several handcar (?) rides and learned to skate.

Back at Wooster in January, 1888 AG writes "What the outcome of '88 will be, I know not, but I hope I shall have gained much in Christian life and the discipline of my mind." In February he stood up with 17 other students during a meeting to announce his intention to become a missionary.

The Spring term presents challenges in oration, where he is criticized for his delivery. Overall, he receives a 90 for his course work. Deep appreciation is expressed for the opportunities he has, and his desire to understand the Lord's plan for him and to do His work.

A Break From History

I'm taking a break from A.G. McGaw's journal as it seems like a lot going on all at once. I'm trying to find a way to expedite contact with folks in Etah, India. It takes 4 weeks for letters to travel to and from, and that is without counting any time one may take to answer. My search this morning did not yield a single e mail address for Etah. When I looked through my scanty journal from the 2004 trip I was reminded of an invitation our group recieved to stay overnight next time. That invitation was issued by Mrs. Lyall, who had acted as an interpreter for our group when we visited a school in Etampadur. Her husband is the Superintendent of the Christian Hospital in Kasganj, which is part of the Etah District. I have found his address and will send a letter in hopes of an invitation for the trip to come. She did say they could host up to 30 people....

This coming Sunday, Lois Netter and I are leading the church Book Club discussion. We chose "Dreaming in Hindi" by Katherine Russell Rich. The author enrolled in a Hindi language immersion program and recounts her experiences living in India while learning Hindi, a language so very different from English. She lives with a Jain family and shares her experiences with them and in a culture that has her thinking in totally new ways. What sets the book apart is consideration of the neurolinguistic implications of language learning as an adult and the changes to pathways in the brain as a result. I did read the book about 5 weeks ago, but feel duty bound to reread it as preparation for the discussion group.

Preparations for an India Mission Dinner to be held at the church on October 24th are well underway. Proceeds from the Dinner will go towards augmenting funds our church sends to India annually. Last year's donation was used to help support 10 Dalit children at Prentiss Girls' School. We expect to cook for about 100 people and will show an excellent animated film, "Sita Sings the Blues". You can find it online at PBS.org. The chicken curry recipe has been tweaked as much as possible to yield tasty results as efficiently as possible. Cooking will commence on Monday.

AG McGaw's Undergraduate Years

AG (Abert Gordon) left home for the College of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio on September 9, 1887 at the age of 23. He had taught locally and worked on the family farm, which was sold shortly after he arrived at College. "The Farm where I have spent almost all my life. Those acres over which my weary limbs have been dragged, as my mind turned to this place and longed for these opportunities. Now I have them, what will I do with them?"

Upon arrival he immediately made his way to Chapel and then met his room mate, a young man of less serious intent. AG became active in the YMCA, going to meetings regularly; he attended Presbytery meetings which were held at the College; prayer meetings and Chapel. He particularly enjoyed Bible class and expected to "get great good from it" thinking "it may be the means of doing good to others."

Like many Journal writers, AG makes regular entries during his first year at school. Entries cover sermons heard, excerpts of letters from family, chestnut and apple picking, class socials, football games and the like. But the theme of service to others is woven throughout. Upon his return to school after the Christmas break, he writes "What the outcome of '88 will be I know not, but I hope I shall have gained much in Christian life and the discipline of my mind."

Source Material

Fifteen or so years ago, Gerard and I went to Philadelphia to research Reverend Albert McGaw's papers at the library of the Presbyterian Church, USA. We photocopied many pages which went unread for a very long time. The papers were all handwritten and did not make for easy reading.

In October, 2004 a group from my church went to India on a trip that was similar to the one we are planning for 1010. I shared a room with my sister Eleanor and daughter Erica. Every night before we went to sleep we read the journal and letters. It was as if Albert was telling us his life while we traveled in his footsteps. We weren't able to finish reading all the letters during that trip. So now its time to pick it up; but not from where we left off. From the beginning.

Telling the Story

My India journey started a long time ago when my grandfather, Albert G. McGaw, was sent to India as a missionary of the Presbyterian Church. His story is told in personal journals and letters to the Mission Board. He and his wife Ella raised a family in Etah, a village in Uttar Pradesh, while caring for the people around them. Their youngest child, Sarah Elizabeth, was my mother. To her India was "home" and it is from her that my interest was raised.

There is much to tell about those early missionaries, and how their love has transformed lives of people today. There is the story of my daughter's experience in India and how that led to more meaningful involvement for me, my family and friends. And there is the story of a trip that has yet to unfold.

The best way to learn is through doing and this blogging business is no different, surely it will get easier and better in the weeks ahead.