LUTHERAN THEOLOGICAL REVIEW - Concordia Lutheran Seminary

THREINEN: FRIEDRICH MICHAEL ZIEGENHAGEN 75
Three years later, since it was apparent that Pluetschau had not been
successful, Ziegenbalg also decided to go to Europe. He left Gruendler in
charge of the mission. After achieving his objective, Ziegenbalg left for
Halle with the Danish Mission College and the Danish East India Company
in Copenhagen hammering out the final form of an agreement which would
prove beneficial both for the mission and the company. In Halle, Ziegenbalg
reported to Francke. He also took time to find a wife, whom he married in
November 1715. On his way back to India, he spent time in London
solidifying relations with the SPCK. His return in 1716 after a two year
absence as “a triumphant victor. When he left, the further existence of the
entire mission was being threatened. He now returned, bearing the title of
Probst with the directive from the leadership of the East Indian Company to
the local government that it support the mission in the colony.” 63
Ziegenbalg’s return to India ushered in a period of growth and prosperity.
Not only was there enlarged support from the SPCK but the mission work in
Tranquebar was also consolidated and intensified. The relationship between
the mission and the local government also showed a marked improvement.
However, success came with a price. Apparently the comparison to a
returning victor from battle was not an exaggeration. Later, Ziegenbalg’s
wife unwisely wrote in her private letters to her family (which became
public) about travelling from Madras to Tranquebar using twenty-four Indian
bearers, about their large and beautiful home in Tranquebar, about their
sumptuous meals prepared and served by many servants, about a servant
whose only job it was to get fresh fish from the fishermen, and about their
many other personal servants. 64 These candid reports of Ziegenbalg’s wife to
relatives in Germany brought consternation in Europe, Copenhagen as well
as Halle. Francke, who was particularly astonished at the number of servants
which the missionaries reportedly had, tried to suppress the reports and
asked her to be more circumspect. He told her that mission officials in
Copenhagen had a copy of her letters and that the entire mission effort might
suffer irreparable damage because of it. Francke’s fears were soon realized.
Gruendler, who took over the leadership of the mission during the twoyear
absence of Ziegenbalg, had also married in 1716. His wife, the widow
of a former Vice-Commandant, was wealthy and accustomed to a life of
luxury. The marriage and luxurious lifestyle of these two missionaries
presented a special problem for the Danish Mission College which was
raising support for the mission by promoting the ideal of missionaries who
had left all to preach the Gospel to the heathen. From Copenhagen as well as
from Halle, there were calls that the missionaries not marry and establish
homes similar to those of other Europeans in India. Christian Wendt, the
63 Norgaard 102.
64 Norgaard 116, 118.