Benjamin and Sarah, Village Preacher and Wife.

Albumen photograph carte de visite, approx 4 x 2.5 inches. About Very Good with moderate soil and spotting. From a series of CDVs produced to promote the Children’s Missionary Society of the Lutheran Church. No date; ca. 1875-1876. Benjamin John was one of two "native" Lutheran preachers in Dachepalle, Palnadu, India, ordained alongside M. Nathaniel in 1877. A CDV of him as "Rev. B. John" was later produced, and other photos in the series have printed versos instead of the paper labels. This image not recorded, but OCLC locates 2 other images from the series at AAS and the Clements. “Presented to  [blank] By the Children's Missionary Society of the Lutheran Church. This Society was organized in 1873–4, with a membership of about 20,000. Since that time it has not only supported a missionary in India who is known as the ‘Children's Missionary,’ but it has also aided to a great extent the schools and other efforts in behalf of the Children in our Missions in India and Africa. Let all the children of our church be enrolled. The annual payment of 25 cents constitutes membership and entitles the giver to the yearly present from the Society.”