On the 27th June 1832, he was ordained Co-Pastor with Drs. Carey and Marshman of the Church at Serampore. The prayer was offered by Dr. Carey and the charge delivered by Rev. W. Robinson, Pastor of the Lall bazar Church, from

Acts 11: 24.

In 1836, he took a tour through the Eastern Provinces of Bengal, the Khassia Hills and Assam, but on his return was attacked by fever from which he recovered with difficulty. He had eventually to take a voyage to England but was delayed till the close of the year before he could start. He reached England in April 1837, and while there signed the Act of Reunion of the Serampore Mission with the Parent Society which bears date the 7th December 1837.

He returned to India at the beginning of 1838 with a determination to continue the labours of his deceased colleagues. He took charge of Dr. Marshman's Seminary and raised its reputution to the highest degree and made it the first private educational establishment in India. He also sustained the pastoral charge of the Church at Serampore, both European and Native, directed the Missionary efforts of the station and its neighbourhood with zeal and gave his invaluable aid to the general cause of Missions in India.

Soon after his first arrival in India he gave a series of lectures on Chemistry in Calcutta, the first ever delivered in the city, but the proceeds he handed over to the Mission. Later on he prepared an elementary treatise on Chemistry.

To have been associated with Carey, Marshman and Ward; to have assisted in their labours, and participated in their joys and sorrows, he considered the glory of his life.

As a public writer he had few equals in India.

He

When the Friend of India was started in 1835 at Serampore, he took an active share in its editorial management. had the most perfect contempt for money, except as it could be

used to benefit others. His liberality was not limited by his means and he had the far more rare and difficult virtue that of generosity of feeling.

His end is reported to have come on this wise. On his return from his ride he hoped to conduct school as usual, but a little after 10 o'clock in the day it became evident that he had fallen a victim to cholera from which he suffered extremely till about 7 P.M., and about 10-30 P.M. he fell asleep. He died on the 30th April, 1845, and thus fell the last of the Serampore giants. It is thought by some friends that on the preceding evening he had partaken rather too freely of the leechee fruit of which he is said to have been passionately fond.

The Tablet in the Lall Bazar Chapel was put up by one of his pupils. This is what another pupil of Mr. Mack's, who was known to the writer for many years before his death, has placed on record in his reminiscences of Mr. Mack:

The Reverend John Mack, who was both Head Teacher and owner of the Serampore Seminary, was a man universally beloved by all his pupils. He was kind, but he was firm; he was as a father to his boys, he was very painstaking and a ripe scholar, he was a thorough tutor; he was just in all his dealings: he did not spare the rod, but he used it with becoming moderation.

"The boys lost in him a father and friend as well as tutor: the Serampore Church a beloved Pastor, the Native Christians a father in Christ, the residents of Serampore a friend. The native community held him in high esteem and the rich Babus patronized his school by sending their sons to be educated by him. He was too liberal-minded, too benevolent. It was very fortunate that a few months previous to his death he insured his life, though he was in good health at the time."

Probably feelings similar to those expressed above prompted Mr. W. H. Jones to put up the Tablet in the Chapel.

Mr. Mack is referred to in the highest terms in the Rev. E. S. Summers' memorial sermon for the Rev. R. Robinson, who was trained under Mr. Mack and who imbibed much of his tutor's mind and spirit.

He was thus cut off in the prime of life and in the midst of his usefulness when length of days and increasing usefulness seemed before him.

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This chapter will be incomplete without a portrait of Mr. J. C. Marshman, the historian, which is, accordingly given above but there is no occasion to write a biographical sketch of him.

CHAPTER XXXII.

THE PASTORATE OF THE REV. JAMES THOMAS.

(From 11th June 1844 to 20th July 1858.)

IT will be necessary first to introduce Mr. and Mrs. Thomas to the reader before proceeding to detail the events of the pastorate, but let it be borne in mind at the outset that this was Mr. Thomas' third wife, to whom he was married on the 4th January 1842 and who survived him and lived on to a good old age, passing away in her 81st year on the 25th October 1898. It will thus be seen that she was his co-laborer for the whole time that he was Pastor. The biographical sketch of Mr. Thomas will be followed by a brief one of Mrs. Thomas.