George Maxwell Gordon (1839 - August 16, 1880) was a British medical missionary affiliated with the Church Missionary Society (CMS) who completed substantial work in India and supported the construction of a hospital before dying during his service.
Gordon was born to British Naval Captain and Member of Parliament J. E. Gordon alongside his sister and raised in Blackheath, London.[1] During his childhood, he found an affinity for outdoor exploration, and because of his extensive geographical education prior to college, he became enamored at the idea of working abroad.[2] Thus, he aspired of becoming a missionary, soldier like his older brother, or a sailor like his father; however, he was complimented for his kind manners in the classroom and was pushed toward missionary work to care for others.[3] Regarding his family, Gordon and his sister shared a close bond, and they would oftentimes share their aspirations for the future together as lifelong companions.[4]
Soon after, he was sent to Trinity College and completed his B.A. in 1861, followed by his M.A. in 1864.[5] During his education, his sister and mother passed away suddenly, leaving him in a deep sorrow that eventually turned him toward religious work by becoming a clergyman.[6]
Early religious work and CMS Recruitment
Following his commitment to clergy work, Gordon began as a curate close to London, allowing him to frequently visit his father and check his health. In his work, he met fellow curate Reverend T. Valpy French, a famous missionary who had previously traveled to India as a part of the CMS.[7] Gordon would often ask French about his experience abroad, and French would share his stories of spreading Christianity to those who had not found it yet.[8] Motivated by French's work and the conviction to assist others, Gordon spent the next two years in the poorer areas of London, helping those in need while spreading the Christian faith; he was a favorite among children for his politeness and willingness to help, making him stand out as a missionary.[9] However, following his residency in London, Gordon felt that he wanted to complete this same work outside of Europe and spread Christianity to others who had never heard of it and were likely living in poorer conditions than those in London.[10] This, combined with French's affiliation with the CMS, led Gordon to offer himself to the CMS and its various missions globally in the fall of 1866.[11]
Missionary work abroad
Gordon was sent to Punjab on October 25, 1866, as his first mission with the CMS and resided in the town of Pind Dadan Khan.[12] There, he lived in a small traditional residence and possessed very little belongings to conform to the cultural standards of the area; he also wore a traditional outfit when completing his work.[13] He and the other missionaries in the area were assigned to preach to heathens (individuals not affiliated with a large religion) and help the poorer residents with food insecurity and infrastructure projects, and Gordon found great joy in being able to travel to a new part of the world and combine his passion for helping others with his religion.[14]
Gordon's health worsened gradually due to the foreign climate of India, and he was advised by medical personnel to return home and gain strength before returning to work.[15] Instead, he traveled to Australia where other members of the CMS were conducting work, and he continued to help feed the poor and educate young children about sanitation in a climate his body could handle.[16] While there, he visited an industrial school in Melbourne and compelled the young children to collect money for the sick and unwell children residing in India, citing the Will of God to help others and carry out the command of God to others that needed assistance.[17] Following this trip, Gordon returned to South India for four more years, continuing his work of aiding the sick and poor alongside other medical missionaries.[18] He was then given two options by the CMS; return to Australia and become a Bishop of Rockhampton, or travel to North India where Rev. French resided to help run the Lahore Divinity School; Gordon chose to stay in India despite his intolerance to the climate.[19] Right before his travels to North India, Gordon briefly returned to England.
Lahore Divinity School and military affiliation
Returning to India from England, Gordon went through Persia and picked up some of the local language, as well as learning Hindustani and Punjabi from locals in Punjab.[20]
In Lahore, Gordon worked alongside French to teach young boys about Christianity in order to spread the religion to other parts of the world that it had not reached.[21] In order to create longstanding missionary work in India, Gordon also created the JhelumItinerancy in 1875, followed by another mission 4 years later in Beluchistan (present-day Balochistan).[22] In these two missions, Gordon took students from the school and had them interact with local heathens while also promoting substantial healthcare work for the ill by collaborating with other medical missionaries and spreading teachings of proper sanitation.[23]
In 1878, war broke out between Britain and Afghanistan, and Gordon joined the ranks of the British Army traveling to Kandahar as an honorary chaplain and to assist in the medical ranks of the army with his background in caring for others that need tending to.[24] In fact, when at the British encampment in Kandahar, Gordon found a great joy and excitement in helping the wounded soldiers in the military hospital.[25] Gordon's motivation to join the army, other than a desire to help the soldiers of his home nation, was because his goal was to spread Christianity to parts of Afghanistan and Beluchistan.[26]
Death
In 1880, after his first journey to Kandahar, Gordon again travelled with the British Army back to the same location due to rising tensions. Once reaching Kandahar, the army came under enemy fire, and in a desperate attempt to save two injured soldiers, Gordon attempted to travel through the crossfire; unfortunately, he was struck by a bullet that proved fatal a few days after being hospitalized.[27]
Legacy
Prior to his death, Gordon donated ₹75,000 to the CMS in order to support medical efforts in India, and in his honor, they dedicated a new hospital to his name. The Maxwell Gordon Memorial Hospital finished construction with the help of other CMS missionaries in 1894.[28] Additionally, the Lahore Divinity School gained a new chapel by the name of "The Gordon Chapel" that was dedicated to him by Bishop French on February 24, 1883.[29]
References
↑Register of Missionaries and Native Clergy from 1804-1894. Christian Missionary Society. 1896. p.144.
↑Register of Missionaries and Native Clergy from 1804-1894. Christian Missionary Society. 1896. p.145.
↑Register of Missionaries and Native Clergy from 1804-1894. Christian Missionary Society. 1896. p.145.
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