Engineered for Glory: Stories from the Life of E. A. Seamands
Arnett Seamands was born in Lexington, Kentucky in 1891 but his family moved to Tuscon, Arizona, in 1896. Tucson was still a wild frontier town at the time. Despite having a loving Presbyterian Christian mother, Arnett grew up rebellious and wild, especially after she died when he was 11 years old. God, he felt, had nothing to offer him.
His plan was to become a civil engineer, build great structures, and grow rich. As a student at the University of Cincinnati, he was well on his way to fulfilling those dreams. In his first year of engineering school, he met Yvonne Emily Shields, a beautiful girl with a lyric soprano voice, studying music with a possible career in grand opera. The two fell in love and courted for three years, mostly by long distance.
Arnett’s uncle John, a Christian businessman, invited Arnett to visit him at Camp Sychar near Mount Vernon, Ohio, in the late summer of 1912. Arnett needed to borrow some money from him to continue his education, and he assumed this camp was some sort of Chautauqua event, so he went willingly. Imagine his surprise to find that he was at a holiness camp meeting! One of the preachers at that event happened to be an evangelist named Henry Clary Morrison (the founder of Asbury Seminary).
Arnett’s heart was hardened to the things of God, but he had spent good money to get to Camp Sychar and so forced himself to stay for a week. One morning as the speaker was expounding about opportunities in China and the great building projects going on there, Arnett’s first thought was, “What a great opportunity for an engineer! A man could make good money there!” As Bishop Lewis pleaded for helpers to go to China, Arnett was astounded to see a foot-high fiery red ribbon ablaze over the pulpit. On it, large silver letters spelled out the name of a country. Not China – but I-N-D-I-A!
Arnett immediately rejected the vision. Not only was he not going to India, he despised the Indian people. He had worked alongside Indian coolies on an American government project on the Colorado River. To Arnett’s eyes, these dark-skinned men wearing strange clothes, speaking an unintelligible language, eating unappetizing food, and worshipping idols were objects of derision. As he wrote later, “I committed a mammoth blunder when I went east laughing about those Indians. . . I didn’t at that time know Christ and His love for all people. He who is pure Love must have overheard the thoughts of my heart and then God said to Himself, ‘I’ll really fix this fellow! I’ll give him such a love for the Indian people that it will go with him to his dying day! He will want to serve them all his life.’”
God had gotten hold of Arnett’s heart that day and didn’t let go until, a year later, he surrendered his life completely to God’s will. But Yvonne had to be told. It was a great shock to her, as she was expecting to be the wife of a wealthy engineer. She didn’t feel called to India but she agreed to marry Arnett and go with him. Wanting only God’s perfect will for his life, Arnett agonized over whether or not he should even marry her, but God blessed him with a baptism of the Holy Spirit and assured him that he would bless the marriage.
Arnett considered quitting his studies because of his desire to be an evangelistic missionary, but a wise counselor advised him to finish his engineering course. He graduated first in his class at the University of Cincinnati. First prize was a generous scholarship for two years of graduate training and the promise of a good job to follow. When Arnett found out he had won the prize, he turned to his good friend and fellow student, Bernard Pepinsky, who had come in second in the competition, and said, “I’m going to India and won’t need this prize. It’s yours!” Pepinsky became a wealthy man as a result, and he and Arnett remained good friends all their lives, even helping to support Arnett’s missionary endeavors in India.
Earl Arnett Seamands served as a Methodist missionary to India for nearly 40 years (1919-1957). As a civil engineer/evangelist, he built churches, schools, hospitals, clinics, and parsonages all over South India, as well as preaching the Gospel. He was the father of J. T. Seamands and David Seamands, both former Asbury Seminary professors, and the grandfather of Steve Seamands, Debbie Seamands Mostad, and Sheila Seamands Lovell.
I had the honor of getting to know EA Seamands when I was a student at ATS. Such a kind, loving man. Two memories of him: 1) his telling me the story of the silver letters “India” 2) him in the midst of thousands of teens at Ichthus rejoicing and playing his “finger cymbals” to the music!
What a great man of God!
I remember seeing Mr. Seamands at First United Methodist Church Wilmore numerous times. I sat in the Sunday school class he taught a couple of times. He was referred to as, “Tata” Seamands. I believe it stood for, “father”. I am very grateful to him and his wife for their son David Seamands blessed my life and thousands of other lives immeasurably.
I loved running into “TaTa” Seamands when I was a student on the Asbury College Campus. I truly considered it a blessing to hear his stories and testimony. I may have even been late for class a few times because of his energetic testimony. I am very thankful for how his Holiness Legacy has impacted my life. May God continue to be honored through his testimony!
I well remember Rev. Seamands from my days at ATS; I graduated 47 years ago! He was always sunshiny and encouraging–a fine old man. His son JT, another great man, was my advisor while I was working on my MDiv. Sheila Lovell’s article is superbly written; let’s see some more of her family reminiscences!
I am very blessed one to see tatha Seamonds, when ever he was visited to Methodist hospital Bidar in India and I remember when I was Baptized by him in our Village Yedlapur 1982 . My father arranged this and my whole village Baptized a great Missionarie
Beautiful ❤️ Article on Rev. Thatha EA Seamands.
Thank you.
He emptied himself many churches harvested many souls to the lord he didn’t die his address is changed from Earth to Heaven God Bless hi heritage one word we His heritage
Great account of a truly great Christian man! I too met Tata in Wilmore KY as a student. He was joyfully enthusiastic in his relationship with Jesus, sometimes making up songs to sing about him!
I remember Rev. E A Seamands vastly known as Tata Seamands in India, when I was a boy. In fact Tata Seamands baptized me and my sister in Methodist Church, Yadgir, Karnataka, India. He rendered his awesome ministry by establishing more then 25 Churches, hospitals and many schools in small district Yadgir. I thank God for such a great Man of God.
I just saw his grave in Bangalore, India.
Intrigued, I googled him and loved the story I read.
Very important information of honorable E A Seamands(tata).
I am thankful for the Asbury team.
I have seen Tatha Seamands at Dr. Pickard’s Bungalow at Bidar, as I was the piano student of Louisa Pickard during his last days he was in Dr. Pickard’s bungalow I had an great opportunity playing piano with Tatha Seamands, he sang many hymns.
Thank you so much for the brilliant life history of tatha seamonds
I work in the same district where tatha Rev. E.A. Seamonds worked.
My mobile number is +919912935862
I have completed the History of the Methodist church in Bidar. I would like to send you a copy if you can think of publishing it.nI’m willing to share with you.