The case of Dorothy Carey

The name of William Carey (1761–1834) is legendary in evangelical Christian circles. Frequently denoted as “the father of modern missions,” the genuinely humble Englishman would be deeply embarrassed by all of the attention he has received since his death in India, where he laboured for over forty years. His opinion of his ministry is well summed up in a statement he once made to his nephew, Eustace Carey, to the effect that he was “a plodder.” In his opinion, the combination of divine grace, grit and gumption was the simplest explanation for his achievements. However these achievements are best to be viewed, what cannot be gainsaid is that most of those in the circles around him have all but disappeared in the light that has been shone upon Carey. This is not helpful since few, if any, truly great human beings accomplish what they do without the help of others.