I am Henry Devanesan Peter, ranking 4th in a family of nine children. My father was late Rev. Meshack Peter and my mother was late Mrs Sarah Lizzie Peter.

We belonged to the American Arcot Mission, otherwise known as the South India United Church, which formed parts of the South Arcot District and North Arcot District.

My paternal Grandfather Rev. John Peter, was a stalwart in stature, mind and in the lord’s work. He was a pioneer missionary and worked along with the ancestors of the reputed medical missionary, Dr Ida Scudder. My father, Rev. Meshack Peter was a Circle Chairman with 3 to 4 pastorates under his care. He was a well-known- Revival preacher in South India and elsewhere. An orator of excellence, who could melt and move his audience. Even without media, his voice could be heard beyond the compound on the road. Passers-by would stop, listen and then move on after his sermon.

The greatest of world leaders, Mahatma Gandhi visited Vellore when I was 12 years old. In his honour, there was a public meeting at the Cobb Memorial Hall, Voorhyees College, Vellore. It was a blessing for me to sit close to Mahatma Gandhi, almost touching his knees in the crowd. On that occasion, my father Rev. Meshack Peter, was the main speaker. His was a memorable political oration with the spirit of Christ Jesus in it.

My father was a travelling preacher and this resulted in his absence from home sometimes for a month or more. He would tread his way from village to village in the daytime and settle down in a house and speak convincingly from 9 to 12 PM in the night with the head man of the house.

My brother, John Peter, and I were in the Madras Christian College in our final years of graduate studies in 1925. It so happened that as our father was away in the villages for months, we could not pay our college fees. Our mother could not contact him as my father could not be located since he was on the move in the daytime. One day, Mr Boyd, our professor in English Literature read out a list of 25 names of students who had defaulted in payment of fees and asked them to leave the classroom at once. As a defaulter, my name also was on the list. I at once took my books and walked out.

As I came to the veranda, my brother. John also came out from his honours class for the same reason. With heads down, we were walking out by the veranda which abuts the principal’s office room. As we were passing, the Personal Assistant to the Principal, Dr Meston, shouted, “Hoi! Peter Brothers, where are you going”. We said we were going to the hostel. Why he asked. We said because we defaulted in payment of college fees. The personal Assistant shouted again and said, “Look here, Dr Meston has paid your fees from his pocket. Get back to your classes”. We were shocked with relief and thanked him. After some days, we went to Dr Meston’s Bungalow and waited to see him. Seeing us, Dr Meston let us in and asked what brought us to him. We humbly thanked him profusely for the help he had done and tried to offer him the money he had paid. Dr Meston smiled and said “What, you’ve allowed me to help your Dad who is working for the Lord in the villages night and day. I wonder whether he has bones in his body.

Please take back the money and thank your Dad on my behalf”. My father later met Dr Meston, thanked him and had a pleasant time. Thus, I felt for the first time, the touch of the Sovereign Lord’s merciful and compassionate hand. From then on. I learnt to draw gifts of wisdom, Knowledge, Courage and Strength from the Lord almighty through the Lord Jesus, through total surrender and prayer. So much of me as a student. But the most inspiring and exhilarating events in which, the lord’s merciful and miraculous hand played a great part, begins only hereafter from the time I entered Government service up to the day of my retirement.

14.9.95

HENRY D. PETER