James Liddell Phillips

He had a belief that, if he were to be fully devout to Christianity in America, he would feel the need to return to India and become a missionary, like his father, rather than explore other options.

[2] After becoming a doctor and being accepted as a missionary by the Foreign Board, Phillips moved back to India to extend his knowledge of medicine and religion to the people living there.

As he wrote in his journal, “The present appears happy only when doing my Master’s will, and the future looks hopeful only as fully dedicated to faithful and zealous labour for my Lord.”[1] "I told the Lord that I would go anywhere or do anything if He would save me.

"[4] -James L. PhillipsIn India, specifically in Midnapore, Phillips traveled to visit many different jungle tribes, holding clinics, spreading religious services, and ameliorating the state of the villages.

Often, when providing medical services, he directed patients to the “Great Physician” for “diseases of the soul.”[1] Through this process, he converted many Indians to Christianity.

After his return to India in 1878, Phillips held his normal medical clinics and also opened the Bible School at Midnapore in 1879, working as its principal for 7 years.

[3] After another break from India, Phillips returned in 1891, where he began to offer classes at Union Chapel, Calcutta for students studying International Sunday School Lessons there.

[2] In 1893, Phillips left India to go on tours in other countries, raising awareness for the Sunday School mission and recruiting new missionaries.

His return was ultimately based on his deteriorating health condition, for which he needed to receive medical services in America.

“[James'] life was one of self-sacrifice and devotion so deep and full and rich, that to his dying day he never had a thought that he was doing anything nobler than the simple duty which the created owe to the Creator.”[3]The Bible School in Midnapore was opened in May 1879.

[1] James L. Phillips was the principal of the Bible School for a total of seven years,[5] but even in this position, he continued his own missionary work.

The Bible School in Midnapore proved to be very successful and garnered a lot of attendees, who then went on to spread their learnings of Christianity to others in the area.