Arthur Margoschis-Father of Nazareth of India

Arthur Margoschis was born as the eighth son of the Margoshises of the village Lamington in England on 24th December 1852. The seeds sown in his tender heart by his parents were “Love thy God. Love thy neighbor as thyself”. The good teachings of his God fearing parents were a great blessing to him. Margoschis had great love for God and thirst for lost souls even as a boy.

After Margoschis completed his graduation, he took up theological studies also. Then he joined the Government Surgery and Medical College of London and came out successfully. When he was preparing to write the examination for his post graduation, the event he eagerly awaited took place. Bishop Caldwell who was ministering in Idaiyankudi of Tirunelveli District in Tamil Nadu went on furlough to England and shared the needs of the people of Tirunelveli there. When he asked if there was any young man willing to over to India, Margoschis committed himself. His friends and relatives asked him not to be in a hurry and to complete his final year studies and get the degree of MRCS, LRCP. He answered, “This is not a job that I can do according to my own convenience.” He started immediately for India when he was 22 years old then.

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Margoschis reached India in October 1875 and stayed with Caldwell for some time. The village Nazareth, then known as Saann Pathu was given to his charge. He met many challenges even in the beginning of his ministry during 1876. The continuous rain in the erstwhile state of Madras (now known as Tamil Nadu) resulted in the breaches of the ponds there. The river Tamparaparani flooded and there was great destruction. Houses were drowned. Margoschis extended necessary help to those who lost their houses and their belongings. He treated 5964 people who were victims of Cholera and fever.

The problems of the people of Tirunelveli did not stop there. The following year, there was a severe famine. 25% of the people died of starvation. When Margoschis, a man of short stature with a small beard, went round the village on his horseback doing relief work, the people praised God saying, “Jesus is good God and He is God.”

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He made a hatched roof shed for the children who lost their parents in floods and famine. Due to financial constraints, it was difficult for Margoschis to feed these children. Government also sent 80 children to his hostel to be cared by him. While thinking of closing the hostel, it was a big challenge thrown to him. Realizing that God spoke to his heart, “Bring up these children for My sake”, he continued to provide for them.

Canon Margoschis, built a small hut hundred yards away from his bungalow for the orphans in 1877. As the number of orphans increased, he took efforts to put up a building for them and the same was built in 1878 in the place where the Art Industrial School is now. He was made aware of his responsibilities and obligations towards the less-privileged and was very anxious to introduce teaching for them on industrial courses. Hence he founded the Art Industrial School in the orphanage itself on 14-11-1878. Carpentry, Black-smithy and sewing courses were started and then weaving section was introduced. In 1884, the first sewing machine was bought and the art of tailoring was introduced. The lower Secondary Training was provided and in 1900, Upper Secondary Training was transferred from Tuticorin to Nazareth. He was the manager of the school till his death. In those days the Art Industrial School, the brain-child of Canon Margoschis, was praised as the only one of its kind in the district . Margoschis sent the handicrafts of these children to an exhibition in London. With the help of these children, Margoschis planted neem and banyan trees on the roadsides. He conducted weddings of the girls of marriageable age himself in a grand manner, finding suitable bridegrooms for them. This man of God thus became a father and a grandfather even when he was 30 years old.

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There are events that encouraged Margoschis as well. A small boy, namely Enamuthu, ran away from the hostel run by him. Margoschis searched for him for many days and found him. Later, he was ordained and his name was Rev. E. Joseph. Pitchai. A shepherd boy accepted Jesus Christ. When he went home from the hostel on vacation, his parents did not like his Christian songs and his new faith. They asked him to deny his faith. One day, while playing, he fell down from a tree and died. On the deathbed, he said in a feeble voice, “Give me baptism.” Margoschis gave him baptism. The villagers were sad that they had harassed this boy. On that day, nine persons from the shepherd community accepted Jesus Christ. The hostels and the schools run by him helped his evangelical work.

Often, sad events took place in the hostels. Often boys used to run away. Margoschis had also shed tears over disobedient children. Many children died of diseases.

Margoschis loved the children very much. When he went out on the horseback, they used to go with him sitting behind him. He formed the Nazareth Children’s Mission in 1903.

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Margoschis preached in and round Nazareth on horseback. Churches were established in Pillaiyanmanai, Manalkuni, Muthalai Mozhi, Gurukkaattur, Thailapura, Udaiyarkulam, etc. In 1901, there were 1482 believers in Nazareth alone. In many places, the new believers pulled down the temples, took away the golden articles from these temples and gave the same towards expenses for church construction work. The Brahmin community opposed Margoschis tooth and nail. False charges were made against the new believers.

Margoschis started schools in many places. St. John's Girl’s Hr. Sec. School is the first school in south India and a third one in India which was started for girls. It was started by Rev. Hough in 1820.  Canon Margoschis was made superintendent of the school 1876.  He  stressed the need for good education to women and started kindergarten school. In 1886, he made a historic achievement of upgrading the Normal school to a High School. The school became a full-fledged high school in 1888.  The first set of women in the Presidency of Madras to pass the Matriculation Examination was from this school. The Standard of the school was very much appreciated by the Director of Public Instruction in 1890. This school is the first high school for women in south India.He founded Teachers Training School in 1877.

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Canon Margoschis founded a Middle school for boys in 1882 in the name “Anglo – Vernacular School”. In 1885.  This school was awarded “ The Best School” title in the Presidency of Madras. He made a successful venture of upgrading it as “High School “ in 1889 in spite of the stiff opposition from the then Bishop Rt. Rev. Caldwell. But in 1890, the high school classes were taken away from thisschool and attached to the Caldwell High School, Thoothukudi. So the school at Nazareth was reverted into a Higher Grade Middle School. From 1890 to 1912, it served as a model school for the Higher Grade Teacher Trainees.

Another brain – child of Canon Margoschis was the Theological Seminary. It was founded by him in 1890 with eight students. It had grown from strength to strength in the following years

Margoschis was himself an Asthma patient. He started a 30-bed hospital at Nazareth in 1892. Though it was founded in the year 1870 by Dr. J.M. Strachan, the monumental growth was under the able stewardship of Canon A. Margoschis. As he had the knowledge of medicine, he could do marvelous medical service, helping thousands of sick flocking even from 20 to 30 miles away. This service was rendered freely to all irrespective of caste and creed. There was a dire need to provide more facilities to the swelling number of sick in the hospital with wards, compounding room etc., To meet the requirements, the main building of the hospital was built by him in 1892 and the hospital was Christened “St. Luke’s Hospital” by him on the day of St. Luke’s (18 October) in 1892. Today it is a very big hospital with all modern equipments.

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As the believers were afraid of death, because of the frequent deaths due to famine and Cholera, in order to edify their faith, he asked them to observe All Souls Day and All Saints day so that they could remember and honor the dead saints.

Canon Margoschis adopted Nazareth as his “Child”, and with the help of the orphans and hired laborers, he laid the metal road  from Nazareth to Valaiyadi and planted trees on both sides.Telegraphic office was opened on 25-12-1894, as a result of the initiative taken by him. He showed interest in town planning also and the 5th street was formed by him. As a result of his efforts, the original plan to lay the railway line from Tirunelveli to Tiruchendur via. Thenthiruperai was changed and it was decided to lay it via. Nazareth. This work, was put into operation a few years after his death.

 He started a Thrift Fund society for disbursing loans on credit for the benefit of the poor people and if any one of its members died, help was given from that fund. For those who did not know about Life Insurance, this system was a great blessing.

In appreciation of the services rendered by Margoschis, Madras University conferred on him the title, “Fellow of the University of Madras.” People also praised him wholeheartedly as the “Father of Nazareth”.In 1903 the government honored him with a medal “Saviour Hindu” for his services. The Bishop of Madras made him one of the honor canons of Madras Diocese praising his devotion and knowledge.

The 32 years of selfless service of Canon A. Margoschis has left an indelible mark on the History of this area. His dedicated service to this people will remain a memorable historical fact for people of all religions and cultural traditions. He excelled all other missionaries who came before and after him to Nazareth by virtue of being not only a missionary but also being a doctor an educationist, a philanthropist, a philosopher, a guide, a friend, a father and what not. When Canon A. Margoschis left this world on 1908, he left behind the memory of a great and good life, lived usefully a memory that has become a legacy, one that deserves to be passed on to generations unborn.His tomb is in the Nazareth church premises.