"I am glad to note that you are doing very good work in and around Nagercoil. May God bless your work. I am also pleased to note that you are doing work in conjunction with the Church of South India".
This was the credential given to Bro.Lawrie in the year 1958 by the then Bishop of Tinnevelly, Rt.Rev.A.G.Jebaraj.
In the beginning Bro.Lawrie carefully confined himself within the regulations of the Church of South India. The causes of the drifting apart from the C.S.I. can be traced to the doorsteps of those persons placed in high offices of the Church, rather than to Bro.Lawrie himself, which they make it appear to the laymen. It is a broad-based policy of God to get Bro.Lawrie out of the confines of crippling constitutions of denominations. Hence it is erroneous to think - as many thought that time - that but for the attitude of the Bishop, Bro.Lawrie would have remained with the denomination. That letter must have been the leverage with which He pried Bro.Lawrie out of the C.S.I. for world-wide ministration. The pattern of work had been the same with out Lord Jesus when he walked this earth. He preached in the synagogues which was the denomination of His days. After that He preached on the open or on sea beaches going from place to place. Also Bro.Branham, the angel to the Seventh Church Age, preached in many denominations including the Baptist Church, although he preached vehemently against these denominations, as they were never ordained of God.
It is but natural that God had the same pattern for Bro.Lawrie's ministry. He began his ministry within the denominations and was taken out later for the wider and more purposeful ministry, from outside which, he can chastise the wickedness within.
An extract from the Good Samaritan, May 1961 would be enough to brush away the wrong notions about the man, that he is up to building a self ego, as the nervous churchmen try to paint him up:
"At last as the result of the prayers of many, God in His great mercy has raised Brother Paulaseer Lawrie, a Tamilian to rouse the Tamilians from their stupor. Madras has been blessed through his ministry during the past 3 months. Bro.Lawrie is a very unassuming young man with the voice and a message from God. He does not appear to belong to any particular denomination. Although the Bishop in Madras seems to have thrown open to him all the Churches under his jurisdiction, so far Bro.Lawrie has not had the privilege of the wide publicity that was extended to Dr.Billy Graham. In the history of Madras, it was Dr.Graham who attracted record Christian crowds, which were sprinkled with Non-Christians. It is strange that although Bro.Lawrie has not received much publicity, thousands have attended his meetings day after day, the attendance ranging from 5,000 to 15,000 per day in Perambur and Mylapore, 75% of them being Non-Christians. Holding meetings in the open air seems to have lured our Christian brethren, and quite a number of them proclaimed their acceptance of Christ as their personal Saviour".
It looks as if Bro.Lawrie has been called specially for the ministry of healing. I appeal to the readers of the Good Samaritan to pray that God may take complete control of Bro.Lawrie and use him mightily for His glory. I also appeal for prayers that God may raise from Tamil Nad, men of faith like George Muller, Bible teachers like Dr.Torrey, preachers like Spurgeon, revivalists like Moody and Wesley brothers, etc., etc."
"It is then that Tamil Nadu will be healed of her elephantiasis, and Christianity will be a real power. May the good Lord hear us and bless our land".
The Bishop of Madras who was instrumental in widening the cleavage had been at one time an ardent supporter and well-wisher of Bro.Lawrie. The two letters of the Bishop to Bro.Lawrie, when the former was in hospital, would amply prove the above statement. Both the letters have been written by the Bishop himself in his own hand. The first one was received by post and other despatched by hand.
Kalyani Hospital,
Madras - 4.
9th May, 1961.
Dear Brother Lawrie,
I am still in hospital but am much better than you last saw me.
Your prayers and if possible your visits will continue to be welcome. I believe that health is God's will for His children. I believe God's energy fills the Universe, and is ready to recreate us. What He demands is a surrendered life; that is what I humbly want, too. I want to lay hold on God's promises. I believe God wants me to go home in health and strength and resume my work in due course.
I do not know for certain, when I shall be discharged from hospital. God has not told me. But I believe the day cannot be far distant. I am getting permission for persons to visit me in my new air-conditioned room. Please continue the prayers of all friends for me. Our faith cannot be in vain.
Yours sincerely,
Sd/-... David Chellappa,
Bishop.
Dear Mr. Lawrie,
Thank you for your visit last night when I was asleep. Thank God, I am a little better this morning.
When Bishops license you, it is on the understanding, that you do not hold your meetings at the same time as Church services. I was, therefore, surprised to note that you had a meeting on Sunday evening. It will not make for harmony between you and the clergy, if they should regard you as a rival.
May God continue to bless your ministry.
Yours sincerely,
Sd/-... David Chellappa.
P.S. I pray that perhaps my sin and lack of faith may not stand in the way of my complete cure, although if it is God's will, I must accept it as a man, together with His sufficient grace.
D.C., Bp.
Hence it came as a great surprise to all when the Bishop of Madras Rt. Rev.D.Chellappa wrote an official letter addressed to “All Presbyters, Secretaries of Pastorate committees, Heads of Schools, Colleges and Hospitals, the Diocesan Director of Youth Worker, the Secretary of the Lay preachers' Fellowship, and the President of the Women's Fellowship, in the Diocese of Madras, and to the Bishops of the C.S.I.” slandering Bro.Lawrie. The impact was so great that the laymen reacted sharply, and refuted the charges levelled against Bro.Lawrie by printing a rejoinder, and distributing the copies to the same persons the Bishop had addressed his letter. The rejoinder not only cleared Bro.Lawrie off of all the commissions and omissions he was accused of in the Bishop's letter dated October 6, 1962, but it brought out to light the base motive that had prompted him to write it.
That the Bishop was jealous of the popularity Bro.Lawrie had gained among the Christians and Non-Christians alike, due especially to the great success of his healings ministry, is quite obvious from his letter. His reference to the healing powers of the late Bishop Pakenham Walsh in the argument is pathetically childish. It is like a small boy trying to boost his own morale up by saying, "My father is such a strong man that he can lick your father any time!"
The Bishop had committed one of the gravest errors in trying to whip up the communal animosity between the two major groups - Nadars and Pillais - by writing this letter. Though couched in carefully camouflaged words, it could be discerned by everyone who was in the know of the state of affairs within the Diocese.