Illuminated manuscript expressing the thanks of the London Missionary Society to Rev & Mrs Duthie for their 50 years of service for the Travancore Mission [missionary Jubilee]

Handwritten and illuminated, housed in a custom-made wooden case. Official Resolution adopted by the Board of Directors [of the London Missionary Society] at their meeting on February 13th 1906 to express their thankfulness for the Travancore Mission and to the Rev James Duthie, for his 50 years of work for the Mission, and in particular his duties beginning in 1859 as the Head of the Training Institution for evangelists and pastors. Thanks also given to Mrs Duthie for her work with women in the region. Signatures include those of Henry J. Cook (Chairman of the Board of Directors), Albert Spicer (Treasurer), R. Wardlaw Thompson, George Cousines (Foreign Secretaries) and Arthur N. Johnson (Home Secretary). J. Orr Marples, Illuminator, Exchange, Liverpool.

Rev James Duthie was born on 22 September 1833, at Stonehaven. He studied at Bedford. He was appointed as a missionary to Madras with the London Missionary Society; ordained 30 January 1856, at Bunyan Meeting, Bedford; sailed to India 4 February 1856, and arrived at Madras on 15 March. In 1858 he married Sarah Ann Lea. In 1859, having been appointed to take charge of the Seminary at Nagercoil, he left Madras with Mrs Duthie for Nagercoil, where they arrived in November. From July 1862 to September 1863, he had charge of the church and congregation at Nagercoil. In August 1864 he took charge of the district of James Town until February 1865. He also had charge of higher educational work at Nagercoil. In 1871 he was again stationed at Nagercoil and resumed charge of the Seminary and other educational work. In 1897-1898 he took charge of the indigenous pastors and catechists in the Neyoor district. In 1906, Rev Duthie celebrated his missionary Jubilee. Dr Duthie died at Bangalore, 3 July 1908, and was buried at Nagercoil. In 1908 Mrs Duthie visited England, arriving 23 September, and sailing again for Travancore, December 10, of the same year. She died at Kodai Kanal, June 29 1913.

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Donated to SOAS Library on 9 February 2016.

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