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THE THIRD QUARTER CENTURY 1946 A. D. -1970 A. D
Many important events concerning the Church and the Convention stand out like pictures in our memory during the Quarter century from 1946 A. D. to 1970 A.D. It is a period which saw the emergence and exit of many great souls. History of the Convention for this period is practically the history of the Mar Thoma Church.
DEATH OF BISHOP ABRAHAM MAR THOMA. One of the greatest events to be recorded of this period is the passing
away in 1947 of Bishop Abraham Mar Thoma who had held several important
positions in the Church, Association and in the Convention. He was the
Suffragan Metropolitan of the Church and President of the Evangelistic
Association for many years and finally served as Metropolitan of the Church
from 1943 to 1947. Perhaps he did more than anyone before him to develop
the Church as a Gospel-oriented Church, establish contacts with ,missionary
groups and organizations inside India and outside and obtain the services
of reputed missionary speakers for the Convention. Abraham Mar Thoma Memorial
Bible Institute, Kompady, Tiruvalla is a living memorial to the services
rendered by him. Year after year batches of trainees are given instruction
in Bible and Theological subjects in the Institute. There .is a hospital
in his memory attached to the Christudas Ashram ,at Palghat.
NEW METROPOLITAN: The installation of Bishop Juhanon Mar Timotheos as Metropolitan of the
Church in the same year is another. We have already had occasion to refer
to the phenomenal development of the Church in various direction under
his watchful stewardship. During this period he attended the meetings of
the Convention every year except in 1951 when he had to be away from the
State for reasons of health. Whenever he was present he would attend to
every item of activity relating to the Convention such as accommodation
and facilities given to speakers, translators, guests, mike arrangements,
maintenance of discipline on the Convention grounds and so on. Dedication
ceremony of children and the closing message came under his special care.
RT. REV. DR. MATHEWS MAR ATHANASIUS had been taking very keen interest. in the Convention even before he took
over charge as President of the Association. After he became President,
he took full responsibility for conducting it successfully every year.
The call for evangelization, Special mission for Malayalapuzha and Colonisation
in Malabar were subjects which came under his special attention and got
wide publicity through the Convention.
THE CONSECRATION OF THREE BISHOPS of the Church (Rt. Revds. Alexander Mar Theophilus, Thomas Mar Athana sius
and Philipose Mar Chrisostom) in 1954 is another milestone in the development
of the Church. The presence of five Bishops on the rostrum of the Convention
was a heart-warming spectacle for all who loved the growing Church. Their
announcements and messages have gone a long way in enhancing and upholding
the spiritual atmosphere of the Convention. The development of the missionary
work at Vapi in Gujarat, in Bihar, in the Andamans, the revitalization
of the work in Hoskote Mission Field etc., are just a few of the fruits
of the special attention given by the new Episcopas to the evangelistic
endeavors of the Church.
DEATH OF REV. C. P. PHlLIPOSE KASSISA. We have now, sorrowfully to place on record, the passing away in 1948
of Rev. C. P. Philipose Kasisa, who was one of the architects of the Convention.
Some aspect of the great work done by him have already been described earlier.
The steady growth of the Convention during the first five decades of its
existence is largely due to the persistent attention he devoted to it.
The high sense of discipline maintained on the Convention grounds and dedication
of the workers which we find there are the results of the efforts made
by him in the early years of the Convention. He rendered invaluable service
to the Church and the Association in raising and maintaining a high standard
of moral and spiritual life for the Convention and those who worked for
it.
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