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THE BISHOP OF CALCUTTA'S VISITATION OF ASSAM .

Mission Life-Vol ix part 1 1878 {Abridged from the Indian Church Gazette.")

Page 49 The Bishop of Calcutta was engaged in the months of July, August,

September, and October in a visitation of Eastern Bengal, Assam, and Cachar. Hecommenced his tour on Wednesday night, July 18th, proceeding by railway toGoalundo, where he embarked on the yacht or flat Sonanwkhi, which had been placedat his disposal by the Chief Commissioner of Assam. The yacht, which was a closeimitation of the Noah's arks with which we were familiar in childhood, was luxuriouslyfitted, and promised to be a comfortable home for a three months' sojourn." ..

Page 51 The Bishop left Commilla early on July 27th, and re-embarked on theSonamukhi at 1.30, the voyage down the stream to Dandkandi having been effected,with a favouring breeze, in a little over four hours. Dacca was reached the same eveningat 7.30. Here a stay of three days was made. The situation of Dacca is fine, withpleasant gardens, animated bazaars, and other objects of interest. The church, built in

1818, was consecrated by Bishop Heber. The chancel was added subsequently. Thecemetery covers five acres. It is in good order and well laid out with shrubs and flowers,and contains some interesting monuments. On Sunday the 29th the Bishop preached toa good congregation of Eurasians and native Christians in the morning, and to a smaller assembly in the evening. On the 30th and 31st he visited the college and collegiateschool, and the native girls' school. He was also conducted by Mr. Nuttall to anestablishment for training elephants, 170 of these animals being paraded and putthrough their curriculum for the benefit of the Bishop's party. The Nawab Ghani Meeaand his son placed a carriage and horses at their disposal, and invited them to view their beautiful gardens of Shah Bagh and Dibkoosha. The Lall Bagh also, with its associationswith Shah Jehan and the days of the Mutiny, well repaid a visit. On the other hand,Dacca presented some of the less pleasing features of Mofussil lifethe want of harmony and mutual forbearance in the small community, the conspicuous absence of many residents from the church services, and the want of any candidates for confirmation.

On the 25 th, Gauhati was reached, after a beautiful drive of thirty miles, brokenat Burni Hath by breakfast, to which place Colonel Lamb had sent a more roomycarriage than the " tonga," as well as elephants for the baggage. The Sonamukhi hadexperienced bad weather on the way to Dacca, and had not yet arrived ; so Mr. Wardkindly placed his bungalow at the Bishop's disposal.

On Sunday, August 26th, the services were at 7.30 A.M. and 5.30 P.M., thetemperature here being much higher than at Shillong, and the heat sometimes

excessive. In the course of the morning, the Sonamukhi arrived with the Bishop's sister and niece on board, having had a quick run of five and a half days from Dacca.

Extra Note for the readers :

The Bishop of Calcutta exercises episcopal leadership over the Diocese of Calcutta of the Church of North India. The diocese was established in 1813 as part of the Church of England. Edward Ralph Johnson, consecrated 1876; resigned 1898; died1913.

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Bishop Milman's successor as Metropolitan of India was Edward Ralph Johnson,the Archdeacon of Warrington. It is greatly to be regretted that no memoir has ever beenwritten of his long and faithful Episcopate. Coming to India when fifty years of age, hegave to the Church a period of over twenty-one years of unremitting toil. Of untiringenergy and with an iron constitution, Bishop Johnson moved over his huge diocese at allseasons of the year, regardless of climate.

All who remember Bishop Johnson will recall his fatherli-ness, courtesy, andkindliness as well as his practical common-sense way of looking at things. When hisappointment was first announced some one talking with Bishop Jacobson, the well-known Bishop of Chester, expressed a wonder as to whether the new Metropolitanwould be able to understand the subtleties of the Hindu mind. Bishop Jacobson's replywas very brief: "Johnson will do very well, he never goes out of his depth."

When Bishop Johnson resigned in failing health, after more than twenty years of hard work, he was the first Bishop of Calcutta up till then who had not died in India.

Bishop of Calcutta Rev Edward Raplh Johnson

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